Our Story
Our Story
The Peyton Walker Foundation was established in memory of 19 year old Peyton, whose young and vibrant life was stolen by Sudden Cardiac Arrest on November 2, 2013. Motivation to establish the foundation came from the words that were emblazoned on the shirt Peyton was wearing on November 2nd: “What we do for ourselves dies with us….What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.” (Albert Pines) Her shirt called her family to action…establishing the Foundation to save young lives so that other families would never know the heartache of losing a child without warning to Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. If the heart is not restarted, the person will die. Without warning, the heart ceases to pump blood, causing the person to collapse. It’s similar to a total power outage – it happens quickly and without warning.”
We Provide!
Screenings
The Foundation provides free heart screenings for students and athletes throughout our region. Identifying previously undiagnosed heart conditions is an important part of preventing sudden cardiac arrest and saving lives. Unfortunately, an EKG is not routinely included as part of a standard physical or sports physical, leaving some heart conditions undetected.
Training
The Foundation hosts CPR & AED certification classes throughout the year for community members, organizations, coaches, and businesses. In addition, students who attend our heart screenings learn how to perform CPR and use an AED, while family members are encouraged to observe and learn these potentially life-saving skills as well.
AEDs
The Foundation works to increase access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) throughout our communities by providing AEDs to schools, youth athletic organizations, nonprofits, and other community-based organizations. We also support the placement of outdoor AED cabinets, so lifesaving equipment can be available when and where it is needed most. Expanding AED access, along with CPR education and heart screenings, helps create communities that are better prepared to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest emergency.
