Hundreds of local students received free heart screenings on National Youth Heart Screening Day — a potentially life-saving effort aimed at detecting hidden heart conditions before symptoms appear.

The event was hosted by the Peyton Walker Foundation and was open to students ages 10 to 22. Organizers say more than 470 students signed up to take part.

The screenings included vitals, electrocardiograms — commonly known as EKGs — heart murmur checks, CPR training, and in some cases, echocardiograms depending on results and family history.

For many students, the process was simple and quick. EKGs use small adhesive sensors placed on the chest to measure the heart’s rhythm and electrical activity — a test that only takes a few minutes.

“I don’t feel anything at all, so it’s super nice,” said student Nick Polinski during his screening. “I was like, ‘Oh, I’m just getting some stickers put on me. It’s nothing.’”

While the screening may feel routine for some, organizers say those “stickers” can reveal serious and undiagnosed heart conditions. “I was definitely worried and confused,” said Brogan Barlup, who previously went through a Peyton Walker Foundation screening. “I was told there’s this somewhat major heart condition that I kind of have.”

Doctors discovered Brogan had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome — a condition that can increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. At the time, he says he felt completely normal. “My parents were very worried, but I didn’t really know what to think of it,” Brogan said. “I just felt like any normal kid.”

According to the Peyton Walker Foundation, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among student athletes nationwide. “We lose almost 23,000 kids every year to cardiac arrest, and most of it’s because they have an undetected and undiagnosed heart condition. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack, but it’s worth it to find that needle," said Julie walker, founder of the Peyton Walker Foundation.

Walker founded the Peyton Walker Foundation in 2014, just months after losing her daughter Peyton unexpectedly to sudden cardiac arrest.

“After losing our daughter Peyton without warning, we really wanted to save other families from the devastation that we’ll live with forever," said Walker.

Since its founding, the organization says it has helped identify numerous heart conditions early — allowing families to seek treatment before tragedy strikes. The foundation has also donated over 22,200 AEDs to various schools and sports programs through its national life-saving initiative, Huddle for Hearts 

Through the foundation's Huddle for Hearts program, AEDs and CPR training are donated to youth sports and youth service organizations, especially in underserved communities, where kids play, practice, and gather. They have donated over 22,200 AEDs have been donated in the last 12 years. 

Organizers confirmed that during today’s screenings, several students were flagged for follow-up care and referred to medical professionals for further evaluation. For Brogan, early detection changed everything. After surgery and recovery, he was able to return to the sport he loves — and now volunteers with the foundation that helped save his life.

“I owe it all to them for allowing me to be able to play,” he said. “It’s really incredible what they do.” 

The Peyton Walker Foundation plans to continue hosting free heart screenings and CPR education events throughout the year, with the goal of making heart checks a standard part of care for every child.