Amber Egyud and Donna Runyan mobilize Hampton Roads’ corporate leaders to build community of lifesavers as co-chairs of American Heart Association Heart Walk
HAMPTON ROADS, Va., June 25, 2025 — Amber Egyud, Chief Operating & Nursing Officer of Chesapeake Regional Healthcare and Donna Runyan, Chief Human Resources Officer of Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, will lead the charge as the 2025 American Heart Association Heart Walk Co-Chairs to build a community of lifesavers in Hampton Roads. Under Egyud and Runyan’s leadership, top executives throughout the Hampton Roads community 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 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 more than 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]. Egyud, Runyan and a team of top executive leaders are committed to ensuring that more people in Hampton Roads are prepared to respond effectively in these life-or-death situations.
“The Heart Walk gives Hampton Roads residents and employees an extraordinary opportunity to address a critical issue in our community” said MeShall Simmons, executive director of the American Heart Association in Hampton Roads. 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 Hampton Roads. With Amber Egyud and Donna Runyan 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 Hampton Roads. 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 Egyud. “The impact of having a trained, confident lifesaver in every home across Hampton Roads 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” added Runyan.
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 November 1, 2025 at Fort Monroe’s Outlook Beach and November 15, 2025 at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront’s Neptune’s Park, where thousands 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. Companies interested in participating can contact Stephanie Corio at stephanie.corio@heart.org. For more information about the Hampton Roads Heart Walk, visit www.hamptonroadsheartwalk.org.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173
Jaylyn Brown: 443-866-7733; jaylyn.brown@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.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
