Mission
Mission StatementThrough education, awareness, support and prevention, PACE aims
to prevent arrhythmic cardiac events which can lead to sudden death
Our goals:
- Arrhythmia Education and Awareness for:
- Schools
- Support System for affected families:
- Hold Family Gatherings
- Provide an informative Website
- Create a communication network
- Provide Counselling
- Prevention:
- AED training and placement Medical equipment
- Research
HISTORY
This Website is the result of Michelle Luscombe's life being saved in 2001 at the tender age of 12 by the well trained teachers and parents at Union High School, Graaff Reinet in the Karoo after she suddenly collapsed on the sports field from a heart condition of which we were totally unaware of.
She was fit and healthy and not much was thought of the fainting spell until a CPR instructor teacher, noticed that this was no ordinary fainting episode.
Her heart had actually stopped and the teachers’ quick reactions saved her life! Michelle had to have an ICD (Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillor) implanted which would correct her heart rhythm when need be.
Four years later, PACE was started by a group of parents and doctors who are very involved in caring and managing individuals with arrhythmic heart conditions when they realized some important facts:
- There was no support system for affected families or individuals.
- There was little awareness of these conditions.
- There is limited information available in South Africa.
- Education is vital for the public and medical professionals.
- There is no knowledge of how to be prepared for such an eventuality.
- A lot of research is required.
PACE thus aims to Prevent Arrhythmic Cardiac Events that can lead to sudden death in apparently healthy young and often fit sports people.
This is often caused by an arrhythmic (out of rhythm) heartbeat of which the person is unaware.
We aim to create awareness and provide information on arrhythmic heart conditions, when they spell danger and how to deal with them at schools and in the public.
But most of all we want to provide a support and communication network to enable more effective arrhythmia management for everyone concerned, including Doctors.
The United States of America, England, Europe and Australia have very active support groups and are focussing extensively on preventing unnecessary sudden deaths from arrhythmic conditions.
Our support group already have patients as young as 6 years old living meaningful lives through the help of good management and we have many other amazing stories!