4Alec Foundation set up for late Brush athlete

Legacy of Brush hockey player who died unexpectedly Feb. 14 carries on

After the unexpected death of Brush student-athlete Alec Kornet on Feb. 14 from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, his mother Stephanie wanted to establish a foundation in his honor. Its kickoff event will be Aug. 24.

Instead of a dialtone, a lyric from the Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth hit tribute song “See You Again” plays for callers to Stephanie Kornet’s cell phone:

“It’s been a long day without you my friend. And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again.”

Until that day comes for Kornet and her son Alec, she is determined to make the moments count.

A little more than six months have passed since the Feb. 14 death of Alec Kornet, a Brush studentathlete, at an Arcs hockey practice due to what was later found to be Sudden Cardiac Arrest, or SCA.

Kornet is on a mission in Alec’s honor, forming the 4Alec Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness for undetected heart conditions and diseases and for SCA. No. 4 was Alec’s jersey number in hockey.

“Shortly after he died, I felt like it was my mission to bring awareness to undetected heart diseases in youth,” Kornet said. “Obviously we didn’t know Alec had one.

“I felt like it was my mission to prevent another family from having to go through a tragedy like that.”

The foundation will host a kickoff event Aug. 24 during Brush’s soccer doubleheader, as the Arcs’ girls host Akron North at 5 p.m. and the boys take on Garfield Heights at 7 p.m.

For the boys match, in the first of three instances when it will be done this season, Brush coach Mike DiMatteo will present a Man of the Match plaque that will include the 4Alec Foundation logo.

“I figured it would be a good opportunity to expand to our community since they were so wonderful when Alec died,” Kornet said.

She also asked Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Peter Aziz to take part in the event and discuss the warning signs for and awareness of SCA. Aziz checked out Stephanie’s other two sons, Matt and Mike, shortly after Alec’s death.

“He feels very strongly about getting awareness out there as well,” Kornet said.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, SCA is “a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating” and “most people who have SCA die from it — often within minutes.” The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation estimates there are 350,000 cases of cardiac arrest each year, around 7,000 of which occur in children.

The most common symptom of SCA is fainting, with a racing heartbeat, dizziness, lightheadedness, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting as other warning signs.

“There’s quite a few symptoms,” Kornet said.

After Alec’s death, Kornet said her family was touched by the outpouring of support. Less than a day later at the Brooklyn District hockey tournament, Rocky River and Elyria Catholic sported “A.K. #4” helmet decals, and a moment of silence was held. When the Arcs played, with the Kornets’ blessing, Lake Catholic at the Kent District, players from several other high school teams attended as a show of solidarity with the Kornets and Brush.

“Everyone — pretty much like Greater Cleveland — has been unbelievable,” Kornet said. “We got letters and cards from Pittsburgh, California — like all over pretty much.”

Kornet said part of the long-term goal for the foundation is to raise funds for the South Euclid-Lyndhurst community for free EKGs.

“But my big vision is,” Kornet said, “I’d like to be the loudest voice.

“(Our family) is doing OK. We have our good days, and we have our bad days. We have all the firsts coming up of everything — first holidays, his birthday, first day of school for what would have been his senior year. But we’re doing OK. We’re doing all right. We’re leaning on each other.”

For more information on the 4Alec Foundation, visit its website at 4Alec. org, the 4Alec Foundation Facebook page or 4Alec_ Foundation on Instagram.

Kornet