News Photo by Darby Hinkley Z Club, the high school branch of Zonta Club, met on Thursday to finalize fundraising plans for purchasing at least two and possibly three new defibrillators to be available for use at sporting events. Pictured, from left, are Alpena High School Athletic Director Ben Henry, Andy Marceau, deputy chief of Community Risk Reduction for the City of Alpena, Peggy Donakowski, Z Club mentor, Adia Radford, vice president of Z Club, Kameryn Rouse, Z Club president, Rielle Sanders, Z Club member, Ella Watson, Z Club treasurer, Prashali Chhapamohan, Z Club secretary, and Lilian Spigelmyre, Z Club member. Radford and Rouse are holding a defibrillator provided for the photo by Marceau.

ALPENA — A young women’s club at Alpena High School is doing a fundraiser to purchase at least two, and possibly three if enough funds are raised, defibrillators to have on-hand for sporting events.

Z Club, the high school branch of Zonta Club, is asking community members to sponsor a date on the calendar for the month of November. You choose the date available on the calendar, and donate that amount. Z Club members and adult members of Zonta Club of Alpena Tri-County will begin fundraising on Nov. 1.

Each defibrillator costs $1,600. This fundraising campaign was initiated in response to the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s new requirement that a defibrillator be available at every sporting event. Currently, the high school has access to several defibrillators, but more are needed in the event that multiple sporting events are happening at the same time.

“Zonta Club of Alpena Tri-County is sponsoring Z Club,” said Peggy Donakowski, Z Club mentor and Zonta Club of Alpena Tri-County board member. “This is really the first year that we’re doing something big for a fundraiser.”

There are about 10 young women in Z Club right now, she said.

“Each girl has their own calendar page to sell,” Donakowski explained. “We have high hopes to purchase two, but we really want to buy three, defibrillators. New Michigan law came out that, starting next year, you have to have one at every single game … By 2025, all schools in Michigan are required to have the AEDs on site to get to the heart event within three minutes, and all sports teams are required to have one.”

“It’s huge,” said Andy Marceau, deputy chief of Community Risk Reduction for the City of Alpena. “AEDs are what’s saving people. Yes, you can do standard CPR, but an AED is what shocks the heart back into a regular rhythm, and time is of the essence.”

Rouse said this is an important fundraiser for Z Club and Zonta Club of Alpena Tri-County.

“We want to do more for the community this year,” said Z Club President Kameryn Rouse. “This is going to be a big opportunity for us to be able to do more.”

Donakowski explained the mission of Zonta Clubs around the world.

“Zonta International believes young people are important to achieving gender equality and ending violence against women and girls around the world,” Donakowski said, adding that the organization’s mission is “to help improve the lives of women and girls globally now and for generations to come. We must invest in youth development and mentor young leaders for gender equality.”

To participate in the fundraiser, or for more information, email Rouse at ahszonta@gmail.com, or call or text Donakowski at 989-464-5440. There will also be a GoFundMe link on the Z Club’s Facebook page.