GOODYEAR, Ariz., July 27,2026 — 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 Goodyear, Kimberly Blaha, president and CAO of Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital, will chair the 2026 West Valley Heart Walk, leading a year-round 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 Blaha’s leadership, top executives in the West Valley will work to recruit other organizations to join the local Heart Walk campaign and help build a community of lifesavers.
“The Heart Walk brings people and communities together around a common purpose—saving lives,” Blaha said. “I’m excited to engage local businesses, healthcare organizations, and community members to expand our impact and create lasting awareness around heart health and the importance of CPR education.”
According to the Heart Association’s 2024 CPR Perceptions Survey, 39% of people — or approximately 103 million U.S. adults — now feel “extremely confident” or “very confident” they could correctly perform CPR, up from 33% in 2021. That’s roughly 17.7 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.
“Cardiac arrest can strike anyone at any time, and the outcome often comes down to whether someone nearby knows what to do,” said Jeff Meshey, board chair of the Heart Association Phoenix Division and president and CEO of Desert Financial. “We envision at least one person in every household feeling confident to perform CPR. By joining the West Valley Heart Walk, employers can help ensure that when it matters most, their employees are prepared to take action.”
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 West Valley Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 at Goodyear Civic Square. An estimated 8,000 participants are expected to walk in celebration of local survivors and the lifesaving progress made in the community. The event is locally presented by Abrazo Health and Sun Health is the Live Fierce Take Action sponsor. For more information about the West Valley Heart Walk, visit www.westvalleyheartwalk.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.
For Media Inquiries:
Satara Tinkler; satara.tinkler@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
