Anchorage, Alaska, June 15, 2026 — According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital die, and more than half don’t receive bystander CPR. CPR — especially if performed immediately — can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. To help improve cardiac arrest outcomes in Alaska, Carrie Peluso, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CENP, FAONL, FCNS, chief nursing officer of Providence Alaska, will chair the 2026 Alaska Heart Run & Walk, leading an effort to rally companies and community members 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. Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk aims to make CPR education and training more accessible, fund vital research and drive equitable health for all. 

Under Peluso’s leadership, top executives in Alaska work to recruit other organizations to join the Alaska Heart Run & Walk campaign and continue to build a community of lifesavers. The 2026 Alaska Heart Run & Walk executive leadership team includes:

• April Park, Alaska Heart & Vascular Institute
• Brian Headdings, Matanuska Valley Credit Union
• Carrie Peluso, Providence Alaska - Chair
• Cecily Sheats, Creekside Surgery Center
• Chris Hoffman, Alyeska Resort
• Dawn McQuay, Santos
• Eric Rangel, Renewal by Anderson Alaska
• Lisa Joalin, Providence Alaska
• Lucretia Craig, Gemini Consulting
• Megan Piper, Providence Alaska
• Trevor Mclean, Anchorage Fire Department

According to the Heart Association’s 2024 CPR Perceptions Survey, 39% of people — or approximately 103 million U.S. adults — feel “extremely confident” or “very confident” they could correctly perform CPR, up from 33% in 2021. That's roughly 1.7 million more adults who are highly confident in their ability to conduct CPR, yet 61% still lack high confidence to act in a cardiac emergency.

“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time and every moment matters when it does,” Peluso said. “Having the confidence to perform CPR can make all the difference. We’re working toward a future where at least one person in every household in Alaska feels ready to act in a cardiac emergency. By joining the Alaska Heart Run & Walk, employers can help build a culture of preparedness, so their teams are equipped to step in and help save a life when it matters most.”

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 Alaska Heart Run & Walk will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at the Alaska Airlines Center. Over 1,000 participants are expected to run or walk in celebration of local survivors and the lifesaving progress made in Alaska. Companies interested in participating can contact Alaska Heart Run & Walk Director, Deborah Rinckey at deborah.rinckey@heart.org. Learn more about the event and register at AlaskaHeartRun.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, on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. In Alaska, connect with us on heart.org/Alaska, Facebook, Instagram or X.