Martha S. Porter to Lead 2026 New Mexico Heart Walk and 5K Run

22 Apr 20264 min read0 views

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ALBUQUERQUE, April 22, 2026 - For Martha S. Porter, the fight against heart disease and stroke isn't theoretical - it's personal.

After losing her father to a massive heart attack, watching her mother survive a stroke, supporting her husband through cardiac arrest and managing high blood pressure herself, Porter understands how quickly cardiovascular disease can change a family forever. That lived experience is what drives her volunteer leadership with the American Heart Association and what now brings her to a new role as chair of the 2026 New Mexico Heart Walk and 5K Run, set for Sept.

19. "If by bringing awareness I can save one life, then my volunteer work would have been worth it," Porter said.

Porter is leading a year‑round statewide effort to engage companies, organizations and families in raising lifesaving funds and expanding CPR education, a central focus of this year's Heart Walk campaign. According to the American Heart Association , nine in 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside the hospital do not survive, and more than half do not receive bystander CPR.

Clinical Editorial

Summary

Heading: Personal motivation and leadership role inform a statewide Heart Walk drive

Porter, a local banking professional, who will chair the 2026 New Mexico Heart Walk and 5K Run.

The article profiles Martha S.
Porter's leadership is framed as a response to family experiences with cardiovascular disease: her father died of a massive heart attack, her mother survived a stroke, she supported her husband through cardiac arrest, and she manages high blood pressure herself.
Her motivation is described as personal conviction: if raising awareness can save even one life, the effort is worthwhile.

Heading: Campaign focus and community implementation for 2026 Heart Walk

The campaign is described as a year‑round statewide effort to engage companies, organizations, and families in raising funds and expanding CPR education.
A central emphasis of this year’s Heart Walk is expanding bystander CPR education, based on statistics cited by the American Heart Association regarding out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, survival rates, and bystander intervention.
Porter's stated aim is to cultivate a community of lifesavers—neighbors prepared to act before emergency responders arrive.

Heading: CPR education and bystander intervention: stated context

The source cites that nine in ten individuals who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive, and more than half do not receive bystander CPR.
It notes that immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, underscoring the rationale for broader CPR education in households and communities.
Porter uses a personal anecdote about her father’s heart attack and her mother’s lack of CPR knowledge at that time to illustrate the potential impact of wider CPR training.

Heading: Event logistics, community impact, and sponsorship context

The 2026 New Mexico Heart Walk and 5K Run is scheduled for September 19 at Avanyu Plaza, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
The event is characterized as the American Heart Association’s largest community‑facing initiative, designed to unite businesses, survivors, and volunteers to promote activity, fund research, and enhance access to heart‑healthy education and resources.
The article indicates broad community impact through participation, survivor recognition, and memorial aspects, as well as ongoing progress in lifesaving efforts across New Mexico.
Corporate and organizational participation is framed as a vehicle for employee wellness and community commitment to the American Heart Association’s mission.

Heading: Leadership credentials and organizational context

Porter has more than three decades of experience in banking, currently with UMB Bank, and has held a range of roles from teller to associate national bank examiner.
She previously served on the American Heart Association–New Mexico board of directors and returned in 2025 with renewed emphasis on health equity.
Acknowledgment from AHA leadership highlights Porter's deep New Mexico roots, personal connection to heart disease and stroke, authenticity, and commitment to safer communities as key assets for guiding this year’s Heart Walk.

Heading: Operational details and opportunities for involvement

The article notes that all funds raised stay within New Mexico, reinforcing the local impact of the campaign.
It provides contact and registration information for participation: interested parties can reach Sherri Wells at Sherri.Wells@heart.org or visit NewMexicoHeartWalk.org to learn more and register.
Sponsorship is mentioned, with Delta Dental of New Mexico and Presbyterian Health named as supporters.
The piece emphasizes the Heart Walk as both a fundraising effort and a vehicle for advancing physical activity and education.

Heading: Context, limitations, and open questions highlighted by the source

The article frames Heart Walk as a statewide initiative with year‑round activity, but does not provide quantitative outcomes, past event metrics, or precise fundraising targets for 2026.
It emphasizes CPR education and community readiness without detailing specific programs, curricula, or implementation strategies beyond the general focus on lifesavers.
Limitations in the source include a lack of detailed data on prior Heart Walk results, specific plans for equity programs beyond the stated health equity focus, and a lack of participant demographics or performance indicators for the current campaign.

Heading: Open questions and anticipated implications for practice

How will New Mexico Heart Walk programs operationalize expanded CPR training across diverse communities, and what metrics will be used to assess reach and effectiveness?
In what ways will Porter's leadership specifically advance health equity initiatives within the Heart Walk framework, and how will success be measured in equity terms?
What are the anticipated roles for employers and community organizations in aligning Heart Walk activities with broader workplace wellness strategies, beyond event participation?

Section: Synthesis and practical relevance for clinicians and stakeholders

The narrative presents a leadership profile anchored in personal cardiovascular disease experience, translating into a statewide initiative aimed at prevention through education and physical activity.
The emphasis on bystander CPR aligns with recognized priorities in improving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival, highlighting the potential public health impact of increased CPR training.
The event structure—combining fundraising, survivor recognition, and community education—supports ongoing support for research, access to resources, and geographic reach within New Mexico.
The collaboration with corporate partners and health systems is positioned as a lever to broaden community engagement and employee wellness alignment with mission goals.