Hundreds of people continue to fight against heart disease and stroke.
While every second counts to a runner — each one is also vital for someone going into cardiac arrest.
“Nurses at Health South helped me come through this with CPR. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I’d be,” cardiac arrest survivor Bubba Zelensky said.
More than 100 walkers and runners came out to the Centre County Heart Walk Saturday, working to find a cure for America’s number one and number five killers: heart disease and stroke.
“It’s important to get them all together so we can celebrate their lives. But also celebrate the American Heart Association and what they’ve done…The reason I’m so involved is because of the money race for research, which we need in order to save lives,” Michelle Stroud said.
The Heart Walk also shed light on another initiative that’s currently going through the state’s senate and house.
“The American Heart Association and the American Stoke Association’s big pushes right now is to support legislation that would ensure every graduate from high school in the state of Pennsylvania receives CPR training as a part of their high school curriculum,” American Heart Association and the American Stoke Association Communication Director Sean Dreher.
Knowing first hand how important CPR can be, Zelensky says its changed his life forever.
“Everything is not a big deal anymore. I mean stress is like a major heart issue. But just to live life…just to be alive,” Zelensky said.
So far, more than $41,000 has been raised from the event. However, walkers and runners will have 60 more days to continue efforts.