Shaw Golf Event Funds AEDs for Columbia Police
Former South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw hosted a golf tournament to raise money for defibrillators in Columbia Police vehicles.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Heart Disease
Former South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw hosted a golf tournament through HRTHUDL on Friday to fund automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for Columbia Police Department vehicles. The effort follows Shaw's own sudden cardiac arrest during his son's flag football game just over a year ago.
Why it matters
Shaw survived his cardiac arrest because a defibrillator was nearby and a bystander knew CPR, showing how quickly access to an AED can change an outcome. Placing AEDs in police vehicles aims to bring life-saving equipment to emergency scenes within seconds.
The source does not provide a fundraising total or number of AEDs to be purchased, so the scale of the effort is unknown. The timeline for placing devices in police vehicles has not been reported.
The players
Connor Shaw
Connor Shaw is a former South Carolina quarterback who survived sudden cardiac arrest and now leads the organization HRTHUDL.
HRTHUDL
HRTHUDL is the organization led by Connor Shaw that hosted the golf tournament to fund AEDs for police vehicles.
Columbia Police Department
The Columbia Police Department is the municipal law enforcement agency that will receive the AEDs for its officers' vehicles.
The details
HRTHUDL, the organization led by Connor Shaw, hosted a golf tournament on Friday, November 6, 2026, in the Columbia area. Funds raised will go toward purchasing AEDs to be kept in Columbia Police Officers' vehicles so they can be on scene in seconds during a medical emergency.
Timeline
Just over a year before November 6, 2026: Connor Shaw suffers sudden cardiac arrest at his son's flag football game.
Friday, November 6, 2026: HRTHUDL hosts the golf tournament to fund AEDs for Columbia police.
Context
Placing AEDs in police patrol vehicles follows a model in which first responders carry defibrillators to shorten the time to shock during cardiac arrest, a approach this fundraiser extends to Columbia through private funding.
Quick access to an AED during sudden cardiac arrest can be the difference between survival and death, so knowing where devices are kept and learning CPR can matter in an emergency. Residents who want to support the effort can look for information from HRTHUDL about future donations.
The takeaway
A nearby defibrillator and a bystander who knows CPR were what saved Connor Shaw's life, which shows why AED access and CPR training matter for everyone. Learning CPR and locating AEDs in your own community are practical steps readers can take now.
Further reading
For more on prevention and emergency response, see Heart Disease coverage on Wisevoter.
