Cape Fear Heart Walk to promote CPR training in Wilmington
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The American Heart Association’s Cape Fear Heart Walk will return to Wilmington on Oct. 24, bringing community members together to promote heart health and teach lifesaving CPR skills.
The event will take place at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Greene Track, near the corner of Hamilton and Hurst streets.
Activities begin at 9 a.m., followed by a survivor program at 9:45 a.m. The 1-mile and 3-mile walks are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., led by heart and stroke survivors.
Participants will also have opportunities to practice Hands-Only CPR in the event’s Be Extraordinary area and learn about steps they can take to improve their heart health.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year, and nearly 90% do not survive. Immediate CPR from a bystander can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, the organization says.
The Heart Walk is the association’s largest community-facing initiative. Through fundraising, education and corporate participation, the event aims to expand CPR training, improve bystander preparedness and support cardiovascular research.
This year’s event is chaired by Jason Thompson of American Property Experts and sponsored by organizations including Novant Health, American Property Experts, Daniels Family Management, GE Vernova Hitachi, Liberty Health and Piedmont Natural Gas.
