Cypresswood Golf & Country Club Receives 51st AED Donated by Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation
by James Coulter
Built in 1974, Cypresswood Golf & Country Club serves approximately 3,000 people, providing them with a relaxing environment where they can tour the links and test their luck in hitting a hole-in-one.
However, even in such a tranquil environment, stressful and unexpected situations can arise. For that reason, the golf course accepted a donation of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in case such an emergency ever arises.
Bob Schade has been the owner and operator of Cypresswood for more than 38 years. Aside from its serene and green golf courses, the venue also prides itself in offering great food and facilitating friendly community members.
Schade appreciated the AED donation, which was provided recently by Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, a local non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of heart health issues and raising proceeds to donate and install AEDs across Polk County.
“We have a very active clubhouse area, and this AED will allow a customer or staff member to have a chance at life if needed,” he said.
As for Culpepper’s, following its donation and demonstration, he considers it to be, “a fantastic organization with a heart of gold. Melanie is an inspiration for spearheading this effort. Nothing [else] to add, keep up the good work, and good luck!”
Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation was started four years ago by Melanie Brown Culpepper. She started her non-profit following the untimely passing of her fiancée, Michael Culpepper, from cardiac arrest.
Not wanting anyone else to suffer a similar fate, she started her organization to raise proceeds to help donate and install AEDs inlocal establishments. Since then, she has donated more than 51.
She was inspired to donate her next AED to Cypresswood Golf & Country Club, as Schade had donated a few rounds of golf for Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation “Saving Lives Matters” fundraiser.
Upon visiting the clubhouse and golf course, she noticed a need for an AED, a need that she was more than willing to help fill.
“I noticed as I was at the Clubhouse that they did not have an AED on site,” she said. “With such a large amount of homes as well as the amount of people that play golf there, that they should definitely have an AED in case of an emergency.”
Melanie will be hosting Saving Lives Matter, a fundraiser to be hosted on Sat. Oct. 12 at Tanner’s Lakeside. Hopefully, through the proceeds, she will be able to donate and install more AEDs in her community.
“Thank you to all out there who have helped me in any way to make this all possible,” she wrote on Facebook. “Without all of your support through these past few years, I couldn’t keep this all going. You all have no idea how much it has meant to me.”
For more information on Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/honoringculpepper
