HUDSONVILLE, Mich. — The Hudsonville Eagles are set to host a special student-organized charity basketball game this Friday evening.
The Wes Leonard "Never Forgotten" game is at Hudsonville High School on Friday at 6 p.m., honoring a Fennville basketball player who collapsed and died on the court.
16-year-old Wes Leonard hit the game-winning shot against Hudsonville during a 2011 game and then just minutes later, he collapsed on the court and died. Leonard had an enlarged heart, which was the cause of his cardiac arrest that killed him.
The "Never Forgotten" charity game helps raise money for the Wes Leonard Heart Team, which provides automated external defibrillators (AED) to schools and athletic organizations.
"Some schools still can't afford AEDS. And it's really important that people know the impacts that sudden cardiac arrest has on families and how AEDS are really important. Like, it's really important we have them in schools so that more people can be saved from cardiac arrest," said student organizer Alexis Offringa.
Hudsonville is one of several schools that plays "Never Forgotten" games in Leonard's memory. The school is also selling t-shirts to raise money for the Wes Leonard Heart Team.
"We want people to know that it's really important for everyone to be aware of studying sudden cardiac arrest. And that's kind of why we're putting on the game so that we can raise money. And all of our money we're sending to the Wes Leonard Heart team," Offringa added.
The charity game is a double header with the Hudsonville boys basketball team kicking it all off at 6 p.m., followed by the Hudsonville girls basketball team afterwards. Hudsonville is hosting Grandville High School.
If you cannot make it to the game but still would like to donate, you can do so here.
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