SAN DIEGO, Ca., Sept. 23, 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 San Diego Heart & Stroke Walk on Saturday, September 20th at Balboa Park, raising $936,122 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 San Diego Heart & Stroke Walk brought together heart disease and stroke survivors, participants from 80 local companies and other community members to learn Hands-Only CPR and build a community of lifesavers.
“The Heart & Stroke Walk shows what San Diego can do together,” said Patrick Frias, M.D., Co-President & CEO of Rady Children’s Health and volunteer chair of the San Diego Heart & Stroke Walk. “By supporting this year-round movement, we’re not just raising funds, we’re equipping more people with lifesaving skills that help make San Diego a stronger, healthier place. Our vision is for every household to be prepared 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 Sharp HealthCare, Qualcomm, and Rady Children’s Hospital.
“Our team is proud to support this mission,” said Trisha Khaleghi, Senior Vice President and Market Chief Executive Officer of Sharp HealthCare Metropolitan Hospitals. “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 Heart & Stroke Walk included a survivor bell for heart and stroke survivors to ring after they crossed the finish line, blood pressure screenings, a Hands-Only CPR demonstration, a Kids Zone, and Mindful Moments with Labs & More. The event is sponsored by Second Century Catalyst Sponsors: Sharp HealthCare, Palomar Holdings, Louise Brandy, Cynthia Fried and Cathy L. Wong. The Heart & Stroke Walk event sponsors are: Rady Children’s Health, Cardiovascular Institute of San Diego, Medvantx Inc., PNC Bank, Qualcomm, Emerald Textiles and Chandler Asset Management. To register, donate or learn Hands-Only CPR, visit SDHeartWalk.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: 214-706-1173
Erika Cervantes-Aarons: Erika.Cervantes-Aaro@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
