Thousands unite in Central Virginia to build a community of lifesavers

RICHMOND, Va., October 13, 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 3,000 people gathered at the Central Virginia Heart Walk on October 11 at Innsbrook, raising over $680,000 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 Central Virginia Heart Walk brought together heart disease and stroke survivors, participants from over 100 local companies and other community members to learn Hands-Only CPR and build a community of lifesavers. 

“The Heart Walk shows what we can do together,” said Sherri Newman, vice president, Hume-Lee Transplant Service Line at VCU Health and volunteer chair of the Central Virginia 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 Central Virginia 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 Central Virginia Heart Walk Awards recognized the following teams and individuals: 

“Our team is proud to support this mission,” said Devin Tobin, HCA Virginia’s chief operating officer at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital and incoming 2026 Heart Walk chair. “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.”