Fresno, Calif., June 12, 2026 — According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital die, and more than half don’t receive bystander CPR. CPR — especially if performed immediately — can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. To help improve cardiac arrest outcomes in the Central Valley, Bill Cummings, chief executive officer of Legacy Construction, will chair the 2026 Central Valley Heart and Stroke Walk, leading an effort to rally companies and community members to raise critical funds and expand CPR education.
Heart Walk is the largest community-facing initiative of the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere. Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk aims to make CPR education and training more accessible, fund vital research and drive equitable health for all.
Under Cummings’ leadership, top executives in the Central Valley will work to recruit other organizations to join the Heart and Stroke Walk and help build a community of lifesavers. The 2026 Central Valley Heart and Stroke Walk executive leadership team includes:
- Bill Cummings, Legacy Construction - chair
- Cathan Riding, Dignity Mercy Medical Center Merced
- Christine Howland, Camarena Health
- Christine McCombs, Community Health System
- Currun Arora, Radoslovich Shapiro
- Dr. Gayane Koshkakaryan, Saint Agnes Medical Center
- Jason Meyers, Meyers Constructors
- Jay Christofferson, Wanger Jones Helsley
- Joe Kyriakides, MK Electric
- Lynn Bailey, Gallagher Insurance
- Maria Briscoe, Sierra Vista Healthcare Center
- Matt Kumpe, Fresno Plumbing & Heating
According to the Heart Association’s 2024 CPR Perceptions Survey, 39% of people — or approximately 103 million U.S. adults — feel “extremely confident” or “very confident” they could correctly perform CPR, up from 33% in 2021. That's roughly 1.7 million more adults who are highly confident in their ability to conduct CPR, yet 61% still lack high confidence to act in a cardiac emergency.
“Every moment matters when cardiac arrest happens and survival often depends on whether someone nearby knows how to respond,” Cummings said. “On a construction site, where crews rely on each other every day, being prepared can make all the difference. Our goal is for at least one person in every household in our community to feel confident performing CPR. By participating in the Central Valley Heart and Stroke Walk, local employers can help ensure their teams are ready to step in and take action during a cardiac arrest emergency.”
The Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education and training, and the official publisher of CPR guidelines. Through the Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, the Association is working to ensure that more people are ready to perform CPR and be a vital link in the chain of survival, supporting its goal of doubling the survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by 2030.
The Central Valley Heart and Stroke Walk will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at Tesoro Viejo. Over 1,200 participants are expected to walk in celebration of local survivors and the lifesaving progress made in the Central Valley. Companies interested in participating can contact local Heart Walk Director Megan Starr at megan.starr@heart.org. Learn more and register at CentralValleyHeartWalk.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 the Central Valley, find the American Heart Association at heart.org/NorthernCalifornia or on Facebook, X and Instagram.
For Media Inquiries:
Amber Moak: amber.moak@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
