Marco Diaz, MD, chair, Department of Cardiac Services at Maine Medical Center and chief of MaineHealth’s Cardiovascular Service Line, will lead the charge as the 2026 Maine Heart Walk Chair. The Heart Walk campaign will culminate on May 17, 2026, 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.
Under Dr. Diaz’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.
“Nine out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital don’t survive[1]. Most of the time, it’s because no one nearby performed CPR,” said Diaz. “But together, we can change that. The Heart Walk brings communities together to create health and hope for every heartbeat. Every walker who joins, every dollar donated, means more people trained in CPR, more research and more lifesaving moments for everyone.”
The American Heart Association, celebrating more than 100 years of lifesaving service, has put a spotlight on CPR education as a critical element of the Heart Walk campaign. According to the Association, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival[2]. The 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.
Diaz 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 2026 Maine Heart Walk Executive Leadership Team comprises the following members: Phil Cohen, M&T Bank; Andrew Cook, Mascoma Bank; Greg Cox, R.M. Davis; Britt Crewse, MaineHealth; Michelle Fitzgerald, New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland; Robert Hatem, Hannaford Supermarkets; Drew McMullin, Burns & McDonnell; Matt Rector, Trellis Health; George Samaras, Portland Mattress Makers; Stevan Stromsky, Kennebec Savings Bank; Alec Young, Turner Construction; and Jack Zinn, Zinn Wealth Management.
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.
“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,” said Tim Gatz, an Association Development Director in Maine.
Maine Heart Walk sponsors to date include Abbot, Boston Scientific, Kennebec Savings Bank, MaineHealth, Mascoma Bank, New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland, Northern Light Mercy Hospital, Portland Mattress Makers, Spectrum Healthcare Partners, Trellis Healthcare, WEX and Zinn Wealth Management. 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