BALTIMORE, October 17, 2025 — Approximately 9 in 10 people who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest do not survive — but immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival. More than 5,000 people gathered at the Greater Maryland Heart Walk on Saturday, October 4, at the Camden Yards Sports Complex in Baltimore, raising over $1 million to further the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere.

In addition to raising critical funds, the Greater Maryland Heart Walk brought together heart disease and stroke survivors, participants from 70 local companies and other community members to learn Hands-Only CPR and build a community of lifesavers.

“The Heart Walk shows what Maryland can do together,” said Jeremy Gruber, Founder of Rescue One Training for Life and volunteer chair of the 2025 Greater Maryland Heart Walk. “By supporting this year-round movement, we’re not just raising funds — we’re equipping more people with lifesaving skills and helping make Maryland a stronger, healthier place. Our vision is for every home to be ready to respond to a cardiac emergency, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped us take a big step toward that goal.”

This year’s top fundraising companies included Johns Hopkins Medicine, MedStar Health and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. Johns Hopkins also took home the Maryland Hospital Cup, which celebrates the local medical system that had the most impact through fundraising and other activities, for the second consecutive year.

“Our team is proud to support this mission,” said Dr. Seth Martin, immediate past president of the Heart Association’s local board and cardiologist at Johns Hopkins. “Knowing the dollars raised will help train more people in CPR and support research that saves lives makes us feel like we truly made a difference in our community.”

“The 2025 Greater Maryland Heart Walk was an extraordinary success, raising over $1 million to support the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association,” said Dr. Stuart Levine, President of MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and Senior Vice President of MedStar Health. “As chair of the 2026 Heart Walk, I can’t wait to get started to build on this momentum so we can make next year’s event our strongest yet.”

The Greater Maryland Heart Walk is sponsored by the University of Maryland Medical System, LifeBridge Health, Johns Hopkins Medicine, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, CompassOne Health, MedStar Health and many other local businesses.

Donations to the Heart Walk can continue to be made at www.GreaterMarylandHeartWalk.org through November 15.

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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:

Wayne Carter, wayne.carter@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org