Hometown Heroes make AED donations around Chatham County

CHATHAM CO., GA (WTOC) - The Wilson family continues to show great strength in the face of tragedy.

Lisa and Kenny Wilson are preserving their son Cory's memory by making sure local businesses, agencies, and organizations have access to the equipment that could have saved his life.

The chances of Chatham County Police helping someone survive cardiac arrest just more than doubled.

"We can put them in multiple locations in the precincts and probably put a few out in the field," said Chief Jeffrey Hadley, Chatham County Police Department.

Chatham Police received five new AED units - a gift from the Wilsons, whose lives have revolved around one cause since losing their son Cory in 2013.

"For us to be able, through Cory's foundation, to increase cardiac education awareness and donate AEDs to local businesses," Lisa Wilson said.

Cory was a student at Georgia Southern when he suffered a fatal heart arrhythmia and an AED that could have saved his life was not available. Since then, the Wilson's have used fundraisers such as the Fireball 400 baseball tournament to purchase AEDs and place them around the community.

"If we can prevent just one other family from going through what we went through, all this is worth it," Kenny Wilson said.

With the five units donated on Wednesday, these WTOC Hometown Heroes have now put 41 AEDs into recreational facilities, public places, and private businesses in Chatham County.

"Thank you. I mean, wow. Being able to get these resources where we don't have to expend funds to do it, we truly appreciate it."

The Chatham County Police Department had only three AEDs before Wednesday's donation by the Wilson's.

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