The Peyton Walker Foundation

The Peyton Walker Foundation was created in 2013, after the untimely passing of Peyton Walker, a vibrant and ambitious nineteen-year-old college student. Peyton died of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the sudden onset of an abnormal and potentially fatal heart rhythm that causes the heart to beat ineffectively or not at all. To survive, the victim needs immediate CPR and treatment with a defibrillator. Typical survival rates are less than 10%. The Peyton Walker Foundation was created to ensure that “the beat will go on” for other young people with undetected heart issues, so they can grow into healthy adults. The American Heart Association states that “sudden cardiac arrest, the sudden onset of an abnormal and potentially fatal heart rhythm that causes the heart to beat ineffectively or not at all, is the leading killer of student athletes in the United States. It is estimated that one competitive athlete dies suddenly every three days.” The Foundation’s mission is to increase awareness and survival rates of Sudden Cardiac Arrest through education, screening and training. To date, the Foundation has provided FREE heart screenings for over 3,500 students – some of which led to potential life-saving medical attention for students.