Hundreds gather at Madison Heart Walk to honor survivors and raise CPR awareness

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday at McKee Farms Park for the 2026 Madison Heart Walk, honoring cardiac arrest, heart disease and stroke survivors while remembering loved ones who died.

The American Heart Association's annual event featured one-, two- and three-mile walking routes. It also focused on raising awareness about CPR and heart health.

Jim Valk, chair of the 2026 Madison Heart Walk, said the event is about supporting people who have been affected by heart disease and stroke while raising money for research and education. For Valk, the cause is personal.

He lost his wife, Jenni, to sudden cardiac arrest five years ago after 22 years of marriage. "That's why I walk," Valk said. "That's why I'm here to help do whatever I can to raise awareness around hands-only CPR and hopefully help prevent another family from experiencing what I went through."

The American Heart Association says nine out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die. It also says immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival.

"It's just a matter of knowing what to do at the right time and stepping in and having the courage to be able to do that," Valk said.

The Heart Walk is part of a year-round effort to expand CPR education and raise funds for heart health initiatives across the Madison area.