By Hope Lecchi
hlecchi@civitas media.com
Paula Spring and her husband Dr. Jim Spring are pictured at a University of Missouri Football game. Jim Spring passed away on March 2, 2105, after suffering a heart attack. In his memory, his wife and daughter, Megan Spring in conjunction with the Benton County Health Department Fund Raising Team will host the AED “Fore” the Heart Jim Spring Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament Saturday, May 7. The event is an effort to raise funding to purchase AED heart defibrillators for public locations throughout Benton County.
http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_tsd041816spring1.jpg
Paula Spring and her husband Dr. Jim Spring are pictured at a University of Missouri Football game. Jim Spring passed away on March 2, 2105, after suffering a heart attack. In his memory, his wife and daughter, Megan Spring in conjunction with the Benton County Health Department Fund Raising Team will host the AED “Fore” the Heart Jim Spring Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament Saturday, May 7. The event is an effort to raise funding to purchase AED heart defibrillators for public locations throughout Benton County.
A person may never know the impact they may have on the life of another. For some individuals either through their work or because of their caring personality they may help others every day of their lives.
For Dr. James Spring, who passed away suddenly last year after suffering a heart attack, the legacy of his life’s work will continue even after his passing.
“Jim was the gentlest gentleman I had ever met,” Spring’s wife, Paula Spring said. “At his memorial service everyone commented on his soft spoken ways and they commented on his civic work that went on well beyond his practice.
“He had a smile and a personality that was one of a kind and he was giving,” Spring commented “He always was willing and wanted to help others every day of his life.”
Dr. Spring was a dentist in Warsaw for 38 years before his untimely death at 65, serving on the Missouri Dental Association and a state task force for health care, but his contributions to the community reached far beyond his medical practice.
Spring served his community as Mayor-Pro tem and Ward 3 Alderman for the city of Warsaw, as well as being a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and serving as the past president of the Lion’s Club.
He was a member of the Warsaw Park Board, the school board, and was officer of The Benton County Health Center, among numerous other civic and charitable organizations.
Because of his dedication to others and the manner of his death, his widow, Paula and the couple’s daughter, Megan Spring, in conjunction with the Benton County Health Department Fund Raising Team have announced they will host the AED “Fore” the Heart Jim Spring Memorial Benefit Golf tournament on Saturday, May 7.
“Jim was a cardiac patient for 17 years,” Spring said of her husband. “At 48, he suffered a heart attack but he continued to be active and practiced until the day he died.
“He loved golf and Megan and I wanted to do something with his love of golf to help raise awareness and funds to provide for the purchase of AED’s (Automated External Defibrillators) for use in public places throughout Benton County,” Spring added. “Our goal is to raise enough funds through the tournament to purchase six AED’s this year and we hope to make the event an annual one enabling all of us to save more lives in the event of a heart failure emergency at a public place.”
In information provided to the Democrat, Spring noted that every two to three minutes someone in the United States goes into cardiac arrest.
At least 95 percent of the cases end in death within a few minutes, according to health authorities.
“If CPR is started immediately, 911 is contacted and an AED treats a person quickly, a patient stands a 60 to 70 percent chance for survival,” Spring commented. “For every one minute defibrillation is delayed, the victim loses 10 percent of the chances for survival.
“It is also important to note that up to 50 percent of victims in cardiac arrest will have the need for defibrillation,” Spring added. “We want to be able to purchase the devises but we also know that training on how to use the equipment is also necessary.”
Spring said that free training for the staff members at the facilities where the defibrillators are located would be provided.
The committee hopes to place two AED’s in Warsaw, Lincoln and Cole Camp through funds raised this year.
“The response has simply been amazing so far,” Spring said. “We can always use more teams and sponsors are always welcome and appreciated but we have been truly blessed with the support we have received to date.”
“On the third hole the first person to shoot a hole in one will receive a 2016 Silverado made possible by Falk Motors of Clinton,” Spring added. “Sister’s & Company, Bryant Motors, Heidi and Jason Schmidt of CJ’s Sedalia Radiator and Wayne and Karen Simon have also contributed to the event and we have four other major sponsors that we must thank.”
The Boone County Hospital Foundation of Columbia has donated the first AED to the cause and both Bothwell Regional Health Center and the Bothwell’s Foundation have contributed as well.
“Bothwell has always been active in areas related to preventive and better health care for indivals in our community,” Lisa Church executive director of Foundation and Communications said. “When we found out about the tournament we thought it was such a great opportunity for us to reach out as we have a clinic in Benton County and we want the residents of those communities to think Bothwell as their hospital and health care provider.
“Bothwell is a sponsor for the tournament and at our March meeting the hospital Foundation committed to a donation of $2,000 to the Benton County Health Department for the express purpose of purchasing AED’s for use in the communities they have chosen,” Church added.
Another local business, Kohl’s has also provided a major donation to the tournament’s effort.
“We have a group of really passionate associates who are very excited to be a part of this event,” Justin Hubbs, assistant store manager for Kohl’s of Sedalia said. “We have 15 volunteers who will be giving up their personal time to be there and help in whatever way we can.
“Because of their commitment, the Kohl’s Associates in Action Program will donate $1,000 to the tournament,” Hubbs added. “Both locally and on the corporate level we are super excited to volunteer and help at such a great cause.”
The tournament hosted by the Shawnee Bend Golf Course in Warsaw will feature a number of events according to Spring including a $240 payout table for first place based on 10 teams per flight with a $180 second place and $120 third place payout.
“We have prizes for mulligans and string gimmes and Texas T’s and everyone who participates will be given gift bags,” Spring said. “We will also hold a raffle drawing where we have everything from 2015 Royals merchandise, Chiefs merchandise, vintage golf items, coupons from are merchants that include all types of items from food to fitness.
“We also have course passes from Warsaw, Cole Camp, Clinton, Bolivar, and Osage Beach available, and we are pre-selling tickets, and one nice thing is the winners need not be present the day of the tournament.” Spring added.
The four-person scramble will have a nine a.m. shotgun start.
The men will play the white tee on the front and the yellow tee on the back and the women will play on the red tee.
The entry fee is $180 per team and both a complimentary breakfast and lunch will be provided.
The deadline for registration is April 30, but Spring said that they would take registrations as late as the day of the event.
Spring commented that anyone is welcome and encourages participating on a team regardless of their skill level with either a sponsorship or a donation.
“It is our first time but we know this is going to be a great, fun event,” Spring said. “We really are hoping to make it an annual one.
“The medical professionals in Benton County are absolutely incredible and the AED “Fore” the Heart Tournament is simply a way to support them and what they do every day which is save lives,”
Individuals wishing to register a team or donate to the AED “Fore” the Heart Jim Spring Memorial Benefit Golf Tournament or with questions may call 660-221-6148 for more information.
Hope Lecchi can be reached at 660-826-1000 ext. 1484