From left, Margaret Goings, president of Legion Branch #43, John Scott, BC/Yukon Legion zone commander, Nicole Gaucher, community development coordinator, Heart & Stroke Foundation Canada, Shirley Bond, Prince George-Valemount MLA, Shawn Rice, Big Bike co-captain

Prince George, B.C. – An emotional ceremony this afternoon at the Prince George Legion.

This as the Big Bike team led by Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond gifted a life-saving Automated External Defibrillator (AED) unit to the Legion.

The gift was made possible after Bond and her teammates won the Heart & Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike competition by being the team that raised the most money, at just over $8,900. In the eight years Bond and her team have completed in the event, they’ve raised over $25,000.

“The whole issue of heart and stroke became much more personal for me when it was discovered my husband was going to have to undergo heart surgery,” said Bond.

“As many of you know, my husband’s surgery took place at Christmas at St. Paul’s Hospital and I’m very grateful for the amazing staff we have at St. Paul’s and other places. We are very thankful that Bill is still here and probably doing much better than he was even before it was determined that he had some very major heart issues.”

She said the decision to gift the AED to the Legion was an easy one noting “she couldn’t think of a better place” to put it.

“The Legion is honoured to accept this AED and is grateful for the continued support,” said Margaret Goings, president of Legion Branch #43. “This is an important addition to our branch and goes a long way to help our veterans and patrons if needed.”

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, BC Emergency Health Services attends between 2,400-2,800 cardiac calls each year. Without immediate help, someone in cardiac arrest could suffer brain damage within three minutes, after 12 minutes survival is unlikely.