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#BetterTogether: "Class Act with Chris Wragge" makes 1st stop at Mahwah High School

Making sure Marcus Kayal's name lives on 08:18

MAHWAH, N.J. -- Today we're kicking off a new series "Class Act with Chris Wragge," as part of the #BetterTogether campaign.

He will be visiting local schools, and his first stop is his alma mater in Mahwah, New Jersey. 

We're there honoring the legacy of Marcus Kayal, who tragically passed away in 2019. 

You can also sign up to have Wragge come to your school.

See live updates below.

 

Mahwah High School highlights

"Class Act with Chris Wragge" makes 1st stop at Mahwah High School 20:18

Watch the video above for highlights from Chris Wragge's first stop for "Class Act."

By CBS New York Team
 

School shows support

It may have been 5am but it was an amazing morning at Mahwah High School to support the Marcus Kayal Legacy4Life. ...

Posted by Mahwah HS Sports Boosters on Friday, February 3, 2023
By CBS New York Team
 

Our morning in Mahwah

By CBS New York Team
 

Hoops4Marcus tonight

Mahwah gearing up for Hoops4Marcus 04:54

Mahwah's colors are usually black and blue, but tonight the gym will be a sea of red for a charity basketball game in Marcus' honor.

By CBS New York Team
 

Damar Hamlin hit home

Kayal family says Damar Hamlin's collapse hit home 01:37

Marcus' parents were watching when Hamlin collapsed during the Buffalo Bills game and say it brought them back to that tragic day. 

By CBS New York Team
 

Staggering statistics

Mahwah's push to test heart health 04:56

Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student athletes in the U.S., and one in every 300 children has an undetected heart condition. 

Each year in the U.S., 6,328 kids experience EMS-assisted sudden cardiac arrest outside hospitals -- that's 17 kids a day.

By CBS New York Team
 

Bittersweet day for Kayal family

Mahwah honors legacy of Marcus Kayal with life-saving initiative 07:34

Wragge spoke with Marcus' parents and his four brothers, who said today would have been his 20th birthday.

By CBS New York Team
 

Wragge's high school flashback

Flashback to Chris Wragge's football days at Mahwah High 00:29

During his visit to Mahwah High School, Wragge shared a few photos from his alma mater. 

By CBS New York Team
 

Honoring Marcus Kayal

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Family handout

Nothing prepares a parent for the loss of a child, and George and Debra Kayal know that all too well. 

Their son Marcus died of sudden cardiac arrest the day after Christmas in 2019. 

To honor his legacy, the Kayals created Hearts4Marcus, through which more than 120 Mahwah High School kids will be screened with EKGs and echocardiograms that are optional and confidential.

CLICK HERE for the full story.

By Chris Wragge
 

Sign up for a school visit

Does your high school have a special program, activity or event that you want us to know about? Let us know about it by filling out the form below. 

CLICK HERE for more information.

By CBS New York Team
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