Blair Go Red for Women event raised $118K, honors high school student
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — A celebration of strength, survival and heart health advocacy took center stage at this year's Blair Go Red for Women event, where more than $118,000 was raised to support the American Heart Association's mission in Blair County.
Among those honored was the Davis family, who shared their emotional story with attendees and are now working to enact change at the state level. Last September, Spencer Davis, then a sophomore at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School, suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a football practice. He survived thanks to the swift action of coaches and an athletic trainer who performed CPR and used an AED.
His mother, Jennifer Davis, told the audience that while everything went right in her son's case, that's not always the outcome. That's why the family is now advocating for increased access to AEDs and CPR training in Pennsylvania schools.
Spencer, now using his experience to raise awareness, said he feels called to make a difference.
'I feel like I have to keep advocating. This is the reason I was given a second chance,' Spencer said. 'What I have to do, is make sure more lives are saved, and more kids are safe.'
The Blair Go Red for Women event also recognized Blair County's Women of Impact winner, Amy Van Kleunen, who emphasized the importance of research and education tailored to women's heart health.
'It's really neat to be part of something so big nationally where women are coming together to celebrate, the emphasis on women's heart health and how we're different and how it's important to do research,' Amy Van Kleunen said.
The annual dinner and fashion show brings together survivors, families and supporters to raise awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death among women and men.
The funds raised at the event will support community education programs, medical research, and advocacy efforts focused on preventing and treating heart disease in women across the region.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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