Baton Rouge, La., May 7, 2026 — According to the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, approximately 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year — most often outside a hospital. Bystander CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival, yet fewer than half receive it, highlighting a critical gap in community preparedness. To support the Association’s efforts to enhance CPR readiness and build a community of lifesavers in the Capital Area, and despite the rainy weather, more than 2,500 people gathered at the 2026 Capital Area Heart Walk™ on Saturday, April 25 at Rhorer Plaza in downtown Baton Rouge, raising approximately $625,000 and learning lifesaving CPR skills.

This year's Heart Walk brought together heart disease and stroke survivors, participants from more than 58 local companies and other community members to learn the lifesaving skills of Hands-Only CPR, celebrate local survivors and support the mission of the Association.

“In a moment, any one of us can make the difference,” said Chuck Spicer, president of FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake and American Heart Association volunteer chair for the 2026 Capital Area Heart Walk. “By empowering more individuals with lifesaving skills, we’re fostering a culture of readiness – one where every family, every home, has someone who is confident and prepared to act when it matters most. That’s the kind of impact that transforms communities.”

According to the Association's 2024 CPR Perceptions Survey, 39% of respondents report feeling "extremely confident" or "very confident" when asked about their ability to perform CPR — an increase from 33% in 2021, which equates to approximately 17.7 million more adults, highly confident in their CPR skills. However, 61% of respondents still do not report high levels of confidence to act during a cardiac emergency, underscoring the critical need for continued CPR training and awareness.

Heart Walk is the Association’s largest community-facing initiative, reaching more than 10 million people nationwide each year. Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk aims to enhance CPR training accessibility, bolster bystander preparedness, increase funding for cardiovascular research and drive equitable health for all people.

The 2026 Capital Area Heart Walk is locally sponsored by Live Fierce Capital Area sponsor, Cardio Health Solutions, and our Live Fierce Be Relentless sponsor, FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Heart and Vascular Institute. Additional sponsors include: AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, RJ Daigle & Sons, Patton Brantley Realty Group, and Louisiana Blue. Media sponsors include: WBRZ-TV, The Advocate Baton Rouge, Guaranty Media, 225 Magazine, InRegister Magazine, and the Baton Rouge Business Report.

This year's top fundraising companies included R.J. Daigle & Sons, Celtic Marine, and FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake. And this year’s top community fundraising team was Team Jackson Pixley.

"Our team is proud to support this important mission," said Nicholas Daigle, president of R.J. Daigle & Sons. "Knowing that the dollars we raised will help train more people in CPR and support research that saves lives makes us feel like we are truly making a difference in our community, and we're grateful to be part of something so meaningful."

To learn Hands-Only CPR, donate or register for future Heart Walk events, visit www.CapitalAreaHeartWalk.org.

Editor's Note: Photos from the event can be downloaded HERE. Please give photo credit to the American Heart Association.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries:

Mary Fein, mary.fein@heart.org
 

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) 

heart.org and stroke.org