Run with Heart 5K: A Community Effort for Cardiac Health
On a rainy Sunday in Roanoke, Virginia, the Compress and Shock Foundation brought together cardiac arrest survivors and locals for its first “Run with Heart 5K.” The event aimed to raise awareness about heart health and the importance of CPR.
Robert Foresman, a cardiac arrest survivor, shared the event’s purpose: honoring those who have lost their lives and celebrating those who have survived. The foundation emphasizes CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training, offering these resources for free. Over the past decade, they’ve installed nearly 400 AEDs and trained more than 20,000 people in CPR.
Julia Bosset, who experienced a cardiac arrest at just 15, attributes her survival to timely CPR. She recalled how her school resource officer was close by and performed CPR right away. “That quick response made all the difference,” she noted.
Support for the foundation comes from local healthcare providers. Shayne Dwyer from LewisGale highlighted the importance of getting lifesaving tools into the community. “When everyone is trained, we increase our chances of saving lives,” he explained.
The foundation’s commitment to education is powerful. Many people don’t have access to CPR training, and this effort ensures that more community members can learn these critical skills.
In the U.S., heart disease remains a top health concern. According to the CDC, about 697,000 Americans died from heart disease in 2020 alone, making events like this one vital for awareness. By promoting CPR training and AED access, organizations like the Compress and Shock Foundation play a crucial role in saving lives.
For more about the foundation’s free training programs, you can visit their official website.
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