MINNEAPOLIS, May 30, 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 Minnesota, more than 6,000 people gathered at the Twin Cities Heart Walk™ on May 30, 2026, at Target Field, raising over $1,000,000 and learning lifesaving CPR skills.

This year's Heart Walk brought together heart disease and stroke survivors, participants from more than 60 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 heartbeat, you could be the reason a life is saved,” said Cheri Jacoby, American Heart Association volunteer chair of the Twin Cities Heart Walk and divisional IT director of Abbott. “By empowering more people with lifesaving skills, we’re creating a culture where every home has someone confident and prepared to act when it matters most. That’s extraordinary.”

This year's top fundraising companies included Medtronic, Mortenson, Fairview and Inspire Medical Systems.

“We’re proud to support a mission that delivers real, lifesaving impact,” said Kendall Griffith, senior vice president at Mortenson. “Expanding access to CPR training and advancing research directly strengthens our communities, and we’re honored to contribute.”

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 Twin Cities Heart Walk is locally sponsored by Medtronic, Abbott, CPKC, Inspire Medical Systems, Integer, Cirtec Medical. To learn Hands-Only CPR, donate or register for future Heart Walk events, visit TwinCitiesHeartWalk.org.

Additional Links

https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/HeartWalk/TR/HeartWalk/MWA-MidWestAffiliate?fr_id=12632&pg=entry 
https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=HeartWalk_Landing_Page
https://www.heart.org/en/nation-of-lifesavers

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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:
Olivia LaVoy: Olivia.lavoy@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) 
heart.org and stroke.org