Wade mobilizes local corporate leaders to build community of lifesavers
Tim Wade, New Hampshire Regional President of M&T Bank, will lead the charge as the 2025 New Hampshire Heart Walk Chair. Under Wade’s leadership, top executives throughout southern New Hampshire 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.
“The Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s largest community-facing campaign with the potential to reach millions nationwide,” said Wade. “If every walker felt empowered to act in an emergency – so many lives could be saved. Our goal is to have one person in every household confident and prepared to perform CPR. The impact of having a trained, confident lifesaver in every home across New Hampshire cannot be overstated. By joining the 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 New Hampshire residents and employees an extraordinary opportunity to address a critical issue in our community,” said Rosemary Hendrickx, Development Director for the Association in New Hampshire. “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 our area. With Tim at the helm, we are confident this year’s campaign will have an even greater impact in saving lives.”
Wade and his team of top executive leaders are committed to ensuring that more people in New Hampshire are prepared to respond effectively in these life-or-death situations. They have also set an event goal of raising $140,000 to support the Association’s mission. The 2025 NH Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team comprises the following members: Michelle Ouellette, MD, Catholic Medical Center; Sherri Panaro, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield; and Tracie Pelton, PROCON.
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 New Hampshire. 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 June 1, 2025 at Manchester’s Livingston Park, where hundreds of 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. NH Heart Walk sponsors to date include: Dartmouth Health – Heart & Vascular Center; M&T Bank; Catholic Medical Center; Metro Walls; Northeast Delta Dental; and PROCON. Media sponsors are 96.5 Live Free Country and WMUR-TV.
Companies and individuals interested in participating can contact Rosemary Hendrickx at Rosemary.Hendrickx@heart.org. For more information about the New Hampshire Heart Walk and to register, visit www.NHHeartWalk.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