CPR saved their lives, now they walk to emphasize the importance of the lifesaving skill
SEATTLE, Sept. 3, 2025 – Carla McCubbin was on a walk with her family while vacationing on Hat Island near Everett, Wash., when her heart stopped and she collapsed. Her mother-in-law sprang into action and started CPR while her son ran to locate his father. McCubbin’s husband, Sean, a former EMT, found a defibrillator and used it to restart her heart. “We were in a very remote location and if I was alone or my family didn’t know about CPR and AEDs, I wouldn’t be here today,” said McCubbin.
Mike Baydo was at home working in his garage when he suffered a cardiac arrest. His wife, Sara, was also at home and went to find him so they could go to church. When she discovered Mike on the ground and unresponsive, she called 911. Sara performed CPR while she and her son waited for the medics to arrive. Years before, Sara had learned CPR through her work, and she was surprised how that training just “clicked” and she knew what she needed to do. “If I didn’t have that CPR education, it would have been agonizing just sitting there waiting helplessly. Knowing I could do something to help Mike was empowering.”
A cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs. According to the American Heart Association, over 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes[1]. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival[2].
The Heart and Stroke Walk is the signature community event for the American Heart Association. Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, the event aims to enhance CPR training accessibility, bolster bystander preparedness, increase funding for vital research, and ultimately, save lives. Walkers can sign up at WashingtonHeartWalk.org and from there, create a fundraising page, download the Heart Walk mobile app, invite family and friends to participate, and take part in the Heart and Stroke Walk CPR Digital Experience to learn Hands-Only CPR in 90 seconds through their Heart and Stroke Walk HQ.
"We envision a future where at least one person in every household knows CPR," said Eddie Bratko, Washington Heart and Stroke Walk volunteer chairperson and president, MultiCare Tacoma General and Allenmore hospitals. "The benefit of having a confident lifesaver in every home cannot be overstated. By joining the American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Walk, we are helping transform members of our community from bystanders into lifesavers, ensuring that when a cardiac emergency occurs, there is someone ready to step in and make a difference."
The American Heart Association is hosting several Heart and Stroke Walks across the state this fall. The Baydo’s will walk at the Tacoma event on Sat. Sept. 27, McCubbin will walk at the Seattle event on Sat. Oct. 11 and a third walk will take place in Spokane on Sat. Sept. 27. Each walk is a festive, family-friendly affair which includes a pre-walk health and wellness festival, a short stage program, followed by an untimed walking route. Heart disease and stroke survivors are recognized with red and white baseball caps to highlight their journey. Young survivors of heart disease and stroke are gifted with superhero capes. The day is truly a celebration of health and well-being with teams dressing up in custom-created t-shirts, displaying celebratory signs and raising their heart rates for better health.
Donations raised through the Heart and Stroke Walk benefit the American Heart Association and help to save lives by funding scientific research that can lead to medical breakthroughs, as well as programs that drive public health policy, set guidelines for medical care and educate the community. The Washington Heart and Stroke Walk is sponsored locally by MultiCare Health System, Delta Dental of Washington, and Providence Health Plan. For more information, visit WashingtonHeartWalk.org or contact Sarah Floyd at sarah.floyd@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. In Washington, visit heart.org/Washington, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X.
For Media Inquiries:
Valerie Koch: valerie.koch@heart.org
Lily Gordon: lily.gordon@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
