Washingtonians will lace up their sneakers and head for the National Mall Saturday morning for the Greater Washington Region Heart Walk, an annual fundraiser the American Heart Association hopes will pull in $2.5 million for heart disease and stroke research this year. The festival area opens at 8:30 a.m., with the walk itself kicking off at 10 a.m., offering both 1-mile and 3-mile routes past the city's monuments.
This year's Greater Washington edition is chaired by Steve Hull, president of Leidos Digital, according to the American Heart Association Newsroom. Hull was named to the role in late August, and organizers have set a fundraising target of $2.5 million for this year's walk. The event was previewed on air by WJLA's Melanie Hastings alongside Joe Burke, who serves as chair of the Executives with Heart campaign tied to this year's walk, per WJLA.
A Push for CPR-Ready Households
Beyond the walk itself, the Executives with Heart campaign is aiming to raise $900,000 and recruit 130 members this year, the AHA Newsroom reports. The campaign's stated goal, according to the American Heart Association's Heart Walk campaign page, is ensuring one person in every household is ready to save a life with CPR.
That mission is underscored by statistics the organization cites on its campaign page: 61% of people are unsure what to do in a cardiac emergency, and nine out of ten people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive. The Heart Walk raises funds for heart disease and stroke research and treatment, and it also aims to expand Hands-Only CPR education so more families know the skill, the AHA Newsroom has said.
Last Year's Crowd on the Mall
If recent history is any guide, Saturday's turnout could be substantial. Around 10,000 walkers gathered on the National Mall for the 2025 Greater Washington Region Heart Walk, which raised more than $2.1 million for the fight against heart disease and stroke, according to the same AHA account. That walk included 579 teams representing 90 companies.
The numbers have climbed in recent years. A 2023 report from the American Heart Association's Eastern States Blog counted roughly 10,000 survivors, advocates, community leaders and heart-health supporters taking part that year, with walkers representing more than 100 companies and 570 teams, and the event raising more than $1.8 million.
What to Expect Saturday
This year's walk keeps the same basic format that has drawn crowds in past years: a festival atmosphere before the route opens, followed by a choice of a 1-mile or 3-mile walk winding among the capital's iconic monuments. Festival activities include fitness demonstrations, a Pet Party and parade, CPR demonstrations, a Kids Zone, music and games, among other activities, according to the AHA Newsroom.
