Contact: Sharon Bates, Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF), 602-482-5606

PHOENIX, April 10 /Standard Newswire/ -- Earlier in the year two Phoenix, AZ area teenagers and one young adult lost their lives to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). More can be done to prevent such deaths. The Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF) will organize and support the AZ Cardiac Screening Day done at Bourgade Catholic High School (31st Ave. & Camelback) on Saturday, May 3, 2008, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. In the past seven years SCA has claimed at least 20 young Arizonans under the age of 40, and most notably, UofA Football recruit, McCollin Umeh, age 18 and age 20 Univ. of Hawaii football player from Paradise Valley School District's Shadow Mountain High School, Mitch Farney. Previous heart screenings organized by the ABF across the nation have resulted in the detection of heart abnormalities in over 10% of young people screened.

Jerry, a mom from Manhattan, KS proclaimed, "If we had not gone to this (screening) we may not have known that (our son) had a heart problem until he was much older. Thanks so much for what you are doing for our Athletes."

WHO: ANTHONY BATES FOUNDATION
WHAT: FREE CARDIAC SCREENING TEST
WHERE: BOURGADE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, 4602 N. 31st Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85017
WHEN: SATURDAY, MAY 03, 2008 9:00 A.M – 2 P.M.
WHY: TO SCREEN FOR UNDETECTED HEART PROBLEMS

Although the screenings are offered free of charge, members of the public who can afford to assist are encouraged to donate $50 or more. Donations and sponsorships will assist ABF with cost and expense to manage the non-profit foundation, offer future screenings, and continue research projects. These donations will directly benefit Bourgade Catholic High School in placement of AEDs (automatic external defibrillators) for their school facilities.

To additionally protect from the devastation of SCA, the ABF encourages all schools and public places to enlist in a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program. BCHS has partnered with ABF in our specially designed Cardiac Screening / AED Fundraiser program to provide such protection to their students, faculty and campus visitors.

ABF is non-profit organization dedicated to saving young lives through early detection of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), and many other heart irregularities in young people. Through heart screenings and other ABF activities, volunteers continue to educate young people and their families nationally about heart health and HCM. For more information on ABF programs visit their website: www.AnthonyBates.org