Fairbanks comes together at Heart Walk to make every household CPR ready
Fairbanks, Alaska, May 16, 2026 — According to the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, approximately 350,000 Americans suffer 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 Fairbanks, more than 300 people gathered at the Fairbanks Heart Walk™ on May 16 at the Carlson Center to walk, learn lifesaving CPR skills and raise donations for the American Heart Association. So far, the event has raised over $100,000 with more to be tabulated.
“Emergencies don’t wait and neither can we,” said Lanien Livingston, American Heart Association volunteer chair of the 2026 and 2027 Fairbanks Heart Walks. “When someone’s life is on the line, it’s often a family member, a friend or a neighbor who’s right there. By sharing CPR information through the Fairbanks Heart Walk, we’re giving Fairbankans the confidence to act in those critical moments, so every home has someone ready to help.
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.
Highlights from the day included a festival area with photo opportunities, blood pressure screenings, Hands-Only CPR demonstrations, a tribute wall where participants could remember those lost to heart disease and stroke and a non-competitive 5K or 1-mile walking path.
This year's top fundraising companies included Denali State Bank, Doyon Limited, Foundation Health Partners and University of Alaska Fairbanks. The top community teams were Bluegrass Running Club and Meet the Robinsons.
The Fairbanks Heart Walk is locally sponsored by Alaska Heart & Vascular Institute. To learn Hands-Only CPR, donate or register for future Heart Walk events, visit FairbanksHeartWalk.org.
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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. In Alaska, connect with us on heart.org/Alaska, Facebook, Instagram or X.
For Media Inquiries:
Amber Moak, amber.moak@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
