The American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service in 2024, has selected a 5th grader at Coastal Ridge Elementary School in York to serve as a volunteer Maine Youth Heart Ambassador for the 2024-2025 school year.
Wesley Ethridge, 10, of York will work closely with the American Heart Association’s in-school programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™, to passionately inspire peers to adopt healthier habits for improved mental and physical well-being. Wesley was born with congenital heart disease and underwent a heart transplant.
The American Heart Association accepted nominations nationwide from young people who have been affected by heart disease or stroke. Youth with a personal diagnosis, a family history of cardiovascular disease, or a passion for leading a heart-healthy life were encouraged to apply for the Youth Heart Ambassador role.
“Wesley is an incredibly resilient, brave and bright kid who loves school, biking, Lego, history and playing outdoors. He makes many trips to Boston Children’s Hospital throughout the year for routine cardiology appointments in addition to six other specialists who follow him,” said Alicia Ethridge, Wesley’s mother.
Wesley’s speech from his school’s American Heart Association assembly last February was covered by WCSH-6 TV and was also featured in the Portsmouth Herald, York Weekly and Weekly Sentinel.
The Youth Heart Ambassadors serve a one-year commitment as a volunteer of the American Heart Association assisting the organization to be a relentless force for healthier lives for all. The position gives youth a voice to encourage, advocate and emphasize the need to raise critical funding in their local community as they share the impact cardiovascular disease has had on their life.
“It’s exciting to see one of our local youth share their voice and experience to help others live heart healthy” said Gary Urey, the Association’s school engagement director for Maine. “Wesley has an incredible story to share, and we are excited to see the impact he will make in our local schools.”
The Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge are dynamic service-learning fundraising programs that teach students how to improve their overall health while making a positive impact on others. Through engaging curriculums and interactive challenges, students get active, have fun, and raise essential funds for congenital heart defects, nutrition security, CPR training, mental well-being and more. These efforts support the American Heart Association’s mission to create a world of longer, healthier lives.
Schools interested in participating in either Kids Heart Challenge or American Heart Challenge can register now for the 2024-2025 school year. More information about the Youth Heart Ambassadors can be found at, heart.org/youthambassadors, or by contacting Maine’s school engagement director, Gary Urey, at Gary.Urey@heart.org.