Lion Heart Heroes Foundation

THE LION HEART HEROES FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON REDUCING SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST IN THE MILITARY

The Lion Heart Heroes Foundation was founded in October 2014, in honor of Marine LCpl David Finlayson. While on a five-mile training run with his battalion in Hawaii, David’s heart went into a bad rhythm, and he collapsed in Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  Efforts to revive him failed. David died in November 2013, at age 25. David is sorely missed by all who knew him. We still don’t know exactly what caused David’s heart to stop. He had never had a simple electrocardiogram (ECG) that might have revealed some kind of cardiac disorder.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) ​is the leading cause ​of non-traumatic death in the military, specifically among recruits in training. The medical protocols at Military Entrance Processing (MEPS) do not yet include a basic electrocardiogram (ECG) for heart health.

Here’s What We Do

The Lion Heart Heroes Foundation advocates for changes at the national legislative level by working with our congressional representatives and the House Armed Services Committee. So far, we have succeeded in adding language to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in three different fiscal years (FY). The NDAA is the massive Department of Defense budget and expenditure authorization that encompasses everything to do with our military.

In addition to raising awareness of the importance of better cardiac screening in the military and advocating for screening all military recruits with ECGs using the latest protocols and technology, Lion Heart Heroes also donates Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to military posts.  Our funds come from donations, and we’d like your help. 

SCA costs lives—it’s a human issue.
SCA wastes resources—it’s a budget issue.
SCA jeopardizes military missions—it’s a readiness issue.

 
Every military member deserves an ECG and the chance to prevent a life-altering or life-ending event. Help us with this important mission, please DONATE.

Please use our CONTACT page to ask questions, make comments, and  sign up for our newsletter.