Ben Traverse mobilizes Vermont’s corporate leaders to build community of lifesavers as chairman of American Heart Association Heart Walk
Burlington volunteer Ben Traverse will lead the charge as the 2025 American Heart Association Heart Walk Chairman to build a community of lifesavers in Vermont. Under Traverse’s leadership, top executives throughout Vermont will unite to recruit companies and organizations to join the Heart Walk, a campaign aimed at raising funds to fight cardiovascular disease while equipping people with the education, knowledge and resources to act in the face of a cardiac emergency by learning CPR.
The American Heart Association, which has been saving lives for over 100 years, 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]. Traverse and a team of top executive leaders are committed to ensuring that more people in Vermont are prepared to respond effectively in these life-or-death situations.
“The Heart Walk gives Vermont residents and employees an extraordinary opportunity to address a critical issue in our community” said Brian Shankey, executive director of the American Heart Association in Northern New England. “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 Vermont. With Ben Traverse at the helm, we are confident this year’s campaign will have an even greater impact in saving lives.”
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 Vermont. 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.
“We envision a future where at least one person in every household knows CPR,” said Traverse. “As the son of a cardiologist, I’ve long known the impact of having a trained, confident lifesaver in every home across Vermont cannot be overstated. By joining the American Heart Association’s 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 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.
Ben Traverse works as an associate general counsel for the University of Vermont Health Network. He and his wife Becky live in Burlington with their three young children, who are thrilled the Vermont Heart Walk will take place on the same field as the Lake Monsters.
The Vermont Heart Walk campaign will culminate on June 21 at Centennial Field, where 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. Companies interested in participating can contact Samantha Randlett at Samantha.Randlett@Heart.org. For more information about the Vermont Heart Walk, visit Heart.org/VTHeartWalk.
[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