David Borkholder, professor emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology, Kate Gleason College of Engineering, will lead the charge as the 2025 American Heart Association Heart Walk & Run chairman to build a community of lifesavers in Rochester. Under Borkholder’s leadership, top executives throughout the area have united to recruit companies and organizations to join the Heart Walk & Run, a year-round campaign aimed at raising funds and awareness to fight cardiovascular disease while equipping people with the education, knowledge and resources to act in the face of a cardiac emergency by learning CPR.
The American Heart Association, which has been saving lives for more than 100 years, has put a spotlight on CPR education as a critical element of the Heart Walk & Run campaign. According to the Association, nine out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, yet immediate CPR can double or even triple the chances of survival. Borkholder and a team of top executive leaders are committed to ensuring that more people in the Rochester area are prepared to respond effectively in these life-or-death situations.
“The mission of the American Heart Association resonates with me,” said Borkholder. “From expanding knowledge of lifesaving CPR to addressing health equity and promoting healthy lifestyles. These efforts will save lives and improve our community.”
“The Heart Walk & Run gives Rochester-area residents and employees an extraordinary opportunity to address a critical issue in our community” said Megan Vargulick, executive director of the American Heart Association in Rochester. “Cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, and the difference between life and death often hinges on the quick actions of a bystander. Through the Heart Walk & Run, we are not just raising funds; we are raising awareness, enhancing CPR training, and building a network of lifesavers throughout the Rochester area. With David at the helm, we are confident this year’s campaign will have an even greater impact in saving lives.”
The Heart Walk & Run is more than a fundraiser – it’s a movement that drives corporate involvement in the fight against cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Rochester. This year, companies participating in the Heart Walk & Run will play a crucial role in the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ initiative, a national effort aimed at doubling cardiac arrest survival rates by 2030.
“We envision a future where at least one person in every household knows CPR,” said Borkholder. “The impact of having a trained, confident lifesaver in every home across Rochester cannot be overstated. I believe Hands-Only CPR is a game changer for enabling bystander engagement to save a life when cardiac arrest happens. It is so simple to learn and easy to perform. I think once more people experience this education, they will become advocates for others to learn and we’ll see accelerated expansion of our Nation of Lifesavers. It is exciting to be a part of this in Rochester.”
The American Heart Association is a global leader in resuscitation science, education, and training, and the official publisher of CPR guidelines. Through the Nation of Lifesavers initiative, the Association is committed to empowering individuals everywhere to act in the event of a cardiac emergency, making sure that no one is left without the help they need when seconds count.
The year-round Heart Walk & Run campaign will culminate on June 7 at Monroe Community College. Thanks to feedback from participants, the Heart Walk & Run is moving back to a Saturday this year. Thousands of participants will walk to save lives while raising essential funds to advance lifesaving research, increase CPR education and training and drive equitable health for all people. Companies interested in participating can contact Megan Vargulick at Megan.Vargulick@heart.org. For more information about the Heart Walk & Run, visit http://www.RochesterHeartWalk.org.
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