FORT WORTH, March 9, 2026 — To help improve cardiac arrest outcomes in Fort Worth and across North Texas, John Archer, Chief Administrative Officer, at TTI, Inc. will chair the 2026 Tarrant County Heart Walk, leading a year-round effort to rally companies and community members to raise critical funds and expand CPR education. According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital die, and more than half do not receive bystander CPR. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
The 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 Archer’s leadership, top executives in Tarrant County will work to recruit other organizations to join the local Heart Walk campaign and help build a community of lifesavers.
Archer will work with companies across Tarrant County to expand lifesaving CPR education and community engagement. According to the Heart Association’s 2024 CPR Perceptions Survey, 39% of people now feel “extremely confident” or “very confident” they could correctly perform CPR, up from 33% in 2021. That is 17.7 million more adults who are confident in their ability to conduct CPR, yet 61% still lack confidence in their ability to act in a cardiac emergency, underscoring the ongoing need for widespread CPR training.
In 2025, the Tarrant County Heart Walk was led by brother–sister co-chairs Jimmy and Katherine Kinley of Kinley Construction, whose energy, advocacy, and vision helped raise an extraordinary $942,000 in support of heart health across the community. Thanks to their leadership, Tarrant County enters the 2026 campaign stronger than ever in CPR readiness, survivor celebration, and community engagement. Their success set the stage for the next chapter as John Archer stepped into the role of Chair for 2026.
“The Kinley team is incredibly proud of what our community achieved during the 2025 Heart Walk, and while the progress is meaningful, our work is not done. We’re honored to continue our support and stand with John Archer and the American Heart Association as they carry this legacy forward into 2026. Together, we’re strengthening the health and resilience of Tarrant County’s workforce, empowering our veterans, and ensuring every person has the skills to improve their lifestyle, and save a life.” said Jimmy Kinley, 2025 Tarrant County Heart Walk Co‑Chair.
“I am serving as Chairperson for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk because this mission touches my life in profound ways. My wife began her nursing career in a cardiac catheterization lab, where she cared for patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. Through her experiences, I’ve seen firsthand the critical importance of rapid care, advanced research, and compassionate support,” Archer said.
“I’ve felt the impact of heart disease personally,” Archer added. “A dear friend, father, husband, and grandfather collapsed while we were playing golf a few years ago. If not for the quick action of others who administered CPR, there is no doubt in my mind that he would not be with us today. I should not have had to rely on others to assist. I should have been a lifesaver! This incident underscored for me the urgency of this work and the need to champion prevention, education, and innovation.”
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 Heart Walk is more than an event; it is a chance for families, workplaces, and neighbors to come together to save lives in Tarrant County. The one-mile and 5k walk has become a weekend ‘must-do’ in DFW and will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at The Shops at Clearfork in Fort Worth, Texas. Heart and stroke survivors will be honored and will be joined by mission supporters. Many teams will be walking to honor those they have lost, and many local organizations and companies will be championing the heart-healthy initiatives and lifesaving work they have come to be a part of. An estimated 4,000 participants are expected to walk. Teams and walkers can learn more and register for the Tarrant County Heart Walk at www.TarrantCountyHeartWalk.org. Companies interested in participating can contact local Heart Walk Director Jennifer Swofford at Jennifer.Swofford@heart.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:
Lindsey Lyons Jones
Phone: 214-441-4114
Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
