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LOCAL NEWS
AMERICUS TAKES TO THE STREETS FOR THE HEART AND SOLE 5K Jackson Carlstrom Staff Writer
“Specifically, with funds raised from this year’s race, I would like to begin planning a ‘Screen Your Teen’ event where middle school and high school aged students can receive a free heart screening. This event is still in the pre-planning stages, but I have hopes to be able to host this in the Spring/Summer of 2022, making it an annual event,” Devon Varnum, the brother of Cole Varnum, said about the proceeds earned from the Heart and Sole 5k. “The purThe Cole Varnum Agency is a pose of the ‘Screen Your Teen’ nonprofit charity organization event is to hopefully detect unknown heart conditions in founded in memory of Cole Varnum, a psychology major at our local youth, enlighten the Georgia Southwestern. Varnum community of Sudden Cardiac was 21 years old when he unex- Arrest and what measures to pectedly passed away in 2018 take if such were to occur, and to ultimately save lives.” due to sudden cardiac arrest
from an unknown illness, later discovered to be cardiomegaly. “I loved seeing members of the On the morning of September 11, a little over 100 people woke Varnum was very active both on community of all ages particup, put on their running shoes, campus and in the community, ipate because it goes to show and always loved volunteering how much our community cares and ran in the Heart and Sole about the Varnum family,” Mad5k. Runners, joggers, and walk- and helping others. The Cole ison Hobby, who participated Varnum Agency seeks to poers who participated in the 5k for the first time with the GSW tentially save lives by raising met at Global Graphics, where public awareness about sudden BCM group, said. “I was 100% the race started and finished. cardiac arrest and other heart shocked when I won a medal in Runners tackled 3.1 miles of general, let alone first place. I related issues. Their goal is streets through Americus with the help of the Americus Police to help provide local schools, won first for women ages 20-24 businesses, organizations, and and it was a great experience, department and the Georgia but I’m just thankful I had the individuals with AEDs, and to Southwestern State University opportunity to participate in the provide the opportunity for Police. Heart and Sole 5k.” Preparations AED/CPR training and heart screenings. The Heart and Sole are already being made for next This year’s Heart and Sole 5k 5k was established in 2019 to year, so to keep up with any was the second year for the 2022 Heart and Sole 5k updates, bring awareness about these event, having started with the issues to Americus. All proceeds or to keep up with everything first 5k in 2019. The 5k was The Cole Varnum Agency is up organized by The Cole Varnum from the race went to beneto, go and like The Cole Varnum fit The Cole Varnum Agency. Agency and backed by severAgency page on Facebook. al local sponsors in Americus.
