Indianapolis Man Survives Stroke, Raises More Than $250,000 for American Heart Association

Source: American Heart Association

INDIANAPOLIS–A man from Indianapolis who survived a stroke one year ago raised more than $250,000 in the last seven weeks as part of the American Heart Association’s “Leaders of Impact” campaign.

42-year-old Nick Schellinger, director of business development at Garmong Construction, had a stroke in November 2023 while picking up his twin sons from daycare. That’s when he started experiencing numbness on the right side of his body. As the numbness spread, he knew he needed to get to the hospital.

“I knew what was happening and was scared,” Schellinger recalled. “I quickly decided to advocate for myself and insisted to the emergency room desk staff that I was having a stroke. All feeling from head to toe on the right side of my body was gone. A nurse overhead me and asked me to smile. When it was clear I could not smile, I was taken back into the ER immediately, where I received scans and soon after lost the ability to speak.”

Schellinger was treated immediately and released a week later with no lasting effects.

Schellinger’s company takes part in the American Heart Association’s Hard Hats with Heart program, which provides resources about heart disease, stroke, healthy living, and more.

“Nick was second in the entire country with his fundraising. His appreciation was shared in the way of his efforts to support the American Heart Association over the last seven weeks,” said Tim Harms, Senior Director of Marketing Communications at the American Heart Association.

Harms says they work with companies in the construction industry.

“We provide them with resources to give them lessons on healthy living, especially since those jobs can be particularly stressful. They have higher risks for heart attacks and strokes,” said Harms.

The “Leaders of Impact” campaign concluded on December 4. Community leaders in more than 60 cities participated in the campaign, who’s goal is to drive equitable cardiovascular health in their communities. A total of more than $4 million was raised.