Cook mobilizes Greater Portland’s corporate leaders to build community of lifesavers
Andrew Cook, Senior Vice President & Maine Market Leader of Mascoma Bank, will lead the charge as the 2025 Maine Heart Walk Chair. Under Cook’s leadership, top executives throughout southern Maine will unite to recruit companies and organizations to join the Heart Walk, a year-round campaign aimed at raising funds to fight cardiovascular disease while equipping people with education, knowledge and resources to act in the face of a cardiac emergency by learning CPR.
“I am chairing the Maine Heart Walk because my family and I have a deep connection to the American Heart Association’s mission. Part of that connection stems from education and awareness around CPR,” said Cook. “We envision a future where at least one person in every household knows CPR. The impact of having a trained, confident lifesaver in every home across Maine cannot be overstated. By joining the Maine Heart Walk, companies are helping to turn our community from bystanders into lifesavers, ensuring that when a cardiac emergency occurs, there is someone ready to step in and make a difference.”
The American Heart Association, celebrating 100 years of lifesaving service in 2024, has put a spotlight on CPR education as a critical element of the Heart Walk campaign. According to the Association, nine out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die[1] yet immediate CPR can double or even triple the chances of survival[2].
“The Heart Walk gives Maine residents, companies and employees an extraordinary opportunity to address a critical issue in our community” said Tim Gatz, Development Director for the Association in Maine. “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, we are not just raising funds; we are raising awareness, enhancing CPR training, and building a network of lifesavers throughout Maine. With Andrew at the helm, we are confident this year’s campaign will have an even greater impact in saving lives.”
Cook and a team of top executive leaders are committed to ensuring that more people in Maine are prepared to respond effectively in these life-or-death situations. They have also set an event goal of raising $564,000 to support the Association’s mission. The 2025 Maine Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team comprises the following members: Sarah Belliveau, BerryDunn; Greg Cox, RM Davis; Catherine Graham, NE Rehab/Encompass Health; Robert Hatem, Hannaford Supermarkets; David Landry, Spectrum Healthcare Partners; Thomas Morrione, MD, Encompass Health; Jagtar Narula, WEX; Douglas B. Sawyer, MD, Maine Health; Scott Tompkins, A/Z Corp – Cianbro; Brenda Williams, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine; and Steve Woods, Tidesmart.
The Heart Walk, active in over 220 cities nationwide, 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 Maine. This year, companies participating in the Heart Walk 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.
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 campaign will culminate on May 18, 2025 at Portland’s Back Cove, where more than 2,000 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. Maine Heart Walk sponsors to date include: BerryDunn, MaineHealth, Mascoma Bank, Spectrum Healthcare Partners and WEX, Inc. Media sponsors are Channel 8 WMTW and 101.9 POR.
Companies and individuals interested in participating can contact Tim Gatz at Tim.Gatz@heart.org. For more information about the Maine Heart Walk and to register, visit www.MaineHeartWalk.org.
[1] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001123 (2023 American Heart Association Stats Update)
[2] Association of Bystander and First‐Responder Efforts and Outcomes According to Sex: Results From the North Carolina