On March 20th, 2025, Colin Blandford collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest after a long day of training. He had no pulse and was not breathing for several minutes until a fellow athlete began CPR and peers used an AED. Against overwhelming odds, Colin survived, not because of luck, but because somebody acted.

After time in a coma, the ICU, and extensive testing, doctors were unable to determine the cause of his cardiac arrest. Colin underwent surgery to receive an implanted cardioverter defibrillator and faced a long road of recovery. Just 142 days later, he returned to Division 1 competition against the nationally ranked Virginia Cavaliers, becoming the first men’s Division 1 soccer player to return to play after surviving cardiac arrest.

Colin’s survival was only possible because others were prepared to act. The experience fueled his mission to ensure no athlete is left unprotected due to fear, hesitation, or lack of awareness. From his college room, he assembled a team and founded the HeartStrong Foundation to give others the same chance he received.