The American Heart Association adds new Spartanburg Heart Walk to Greenville Heart Walk, Taylor Smith to chair both events
GREENVILLE, S.C., March 4, 2026 — The American Heart Association’s Upstate Heart Walk will now be held in both Greenville and Spartanburg to expand opportunities for community members to get engaged. Taylor Smith, senior HR business partner at Contec, Inc., will chair the 2026 Upstate Heart Walks, leading efforts to rally companies, teams and individuals 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. Under Smith’s leadership, top Upstate executives will work to recruit other organizations to join the local Heart Walk campaign and help build a community of lifesavers.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 people suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital every year, and nearly 90 percent don’t survive. But immediate bystander CPR can make the difference, doubling or even tripling someone's chance of survival. To help improve cardiac arrest outcomes across the community, through the Heart Walk, the Association is raising funds to make CPR education and training more accessible, support vital research and drive equitable health for all.
“Cardiac arrest can strike anyone at any time, and the Heart Walk plays a crucial role in CPR and AED accessibility, lifesaving research and local prevention programs,” said Smith. “The lives of friends, family members, and coworkers that it has helped save inspires me, and I’m especially excited to be serving this year as the Upstate Heart Walk expands its reach with a second event in Spartanburg.”
According to the Heart Association’s 2024 CPR Perceptions Survey, 61% still lack the confidence to act in a cardiac emergency.
“While we’re extremely proud of the progress that’s been made over the last several years, our work is far from over,” said Ashley Coleman, American Heart Association Upstate executive director. “We’re looking forward to two impactful events, and Taylor’s commitment is helping us expand our reach and build longer, healthier lives. We hope our community will join us in making this an unforgettable Heart Walk season.”
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 Greenville Heart Walk will take place on Saturday, April 11, at Fluor Field. The Spartanburg Heart Walk follows on Friday, April 17, at Fifth Third Park. Thousands of participants are expected to walk in honor of local survivors and the lifesaving progress being made in the Upstate. Companies interested in participating can contact local Heart Walk Director Jennifer Mathews at jennifer.mathews@heart.org. Learn more and register at upstateheartwalk.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:
Hunter Burton: hunter.burton@heart.org;
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
