Established 2009

Learn more about Living for Zachary

Zachary Troy Schrah was a fun-loving young man who lived each day of his life to the fullest. Born February 10, 1993, in Garland, Texas, he had a self-confident nature and a true zest for life. Growing up in Plano, Zac was enthusiastic about all sports, but he had a passion for baseball and football. While a sophomore at Clark High School, he played tackle on the Junior Varsity offensive line at Plano East Senior High School. On April 2, 2009, Zac’s high school football career and his short life came to an abrupt end; the seemingly healthy 16-year-old collapsed from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) during football practice. There was no warning. There were no signs.

The Schrah family later learned Zac died from a congenital heart disease called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), a common cause of SCA in young people, including young athletes. After Zachary’s death, Living for Zachary, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was established in June 2009 to raise awareness of undiagnosed heart issues in teens.

Our Mission

Living for Zachary is dedicated to raising awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in youth and saving lives through community education and awareness events, promoting youth heart screenings, awarding student scholarships an donating Automated Eternal Defibrillators (AEDs) to youth-based organizations.