Friday, March 8, 2013

LACEY, Wash. - Tori Sorenson  will lead a presentation to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest  during halftime of the men’s and women’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference basketball championship games Saturday at Saint Martin’s University.

Sorenson, who is a program assistant working on the Heart Rescue project at the University of Washington, suffered sudden cardiac arrest when playing in an intramural basketball game during her senior year at Gonzaga University.

“Court monitors saw me collapse and responded immediately with CPR and a call to 911,” Sorenson said.  “When medics arrived, an AED was used to shock my heart into a normal rhythm.

“I am one of the lucky eight percent that survive this unexpected event.  I have since learned that sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of medical death in NCAA athletes.”

Since graduating from Gonzaga in May, 2011, Sorenson has been working to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and CPR/AED education.

Sorenson has an affinity for GNAC athletes.  Her brother, Greg Meier, played basketball at Western Washington University and is now an assistant coach for the Vikings.  She also grew up across the street from Central Washington University where another brother, Toby Sorenson-Bowers, played club soccer.

“I collapsed playing the game I love and I am blessed that those in the gym new CPR.  Incorporating sudden cardiac arrest awareness and CPR/AED education to basketball unites the two things that I have a passion for.”

Sorenson, who has done presentations this winter at the University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Western Washington University and Central Washington University, will announce a CPR skills practice in the upstairs area of Marcus Pavilion during halftime of both championship games.

Additional information will also be available at a booth in Marcus Pavilion.