Local Banking Leader Martha Porter to Chair 2026 New Mexico Heart Walk and 5K Run

A Personal Mission to Advance Community Heart Health: Context, Leadership, and Scope of the 2026 New Mexico Heart Walk

Porter as the newly named chair of the 2026 New Mexico Heart Walk and 5K Run, set for September 19.

The personal narrative emphasizes that Porter’s family experiences with heart disease and stroke—her father’s fatal heart attack, her mother’s stroke, and her husband’s cardiac arrest—shape her commitment to cardiovascular health and to the American Heart Association’s mission.

Her own history with hypertension is noted as part of this lived experience.

• The article presents Martha S.
• The piece frames Porter’s leadership as a continuation of a long-standing engagement with the American Heart Association (AHA), including prior service on the New Mexico board of directors and a return to the board in 2025 with renewed emphasis on health equity.

The article notes that immediate CPR can significantly increase survival chances, framing CPR education as a key preventive and community-safety measure.

• The report describes a year-round, statewide initiative led by Porter intended to mobilize diverse sectors—companies, organizations, and families—to raise funds for heart disease and stroke research, education, and resources, with an explicit emphasis on expanding CPR education as a central objective in this Heart Walk campaign.
• A foundational statistic from the AHA is cited to underscore the rationale for bystander CPR: nine in 10 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests do not survive, and more than half do not receive bystander CPR.

The narrative attributes this aim to Porter’s leadership and personal conviction, signaling a shift toward broader community preparedness beyond hospital-based care.

• The Heart Walk is described as the AHA’s largest community-facing initiative, designed to unite businesses, survivors, and volunteers around physical activity, fundraising for research, and promoting access to heart-healthy education and resources.
• Porter emphasizes building a “community of lifesavers,” with a focus on community readiness to act before professional responders arrive at an emergency.

The article notes expectant broad participation, including survivors, families commemorating lost loved ones, and supporters of ongoing progress against cardiovascular disease and stroke.

She suggests that funds raised will stay in New Mexico, reinforcing local impact.

• The 2026 event is scheduled for September 19 at Avanyu Plaza within the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
• Porter frames the Heart Walk as a platform for corporate involvement: she describes it as an opportunity for companies to demonstrate commitment to employee wellness and to participate in a team-building event that aligns with a community-oriented mission.

Her career has spanned roles from frontline positions to high-level examinations, and she is recognized statewide for leadership and civic engagement.

• Porter is characterized as a banking professional with more than three decades of experience, currently at UMB Bank.
• Her statements emphasize accessibility and inclusivity of lifesaving education, and she articulates a vision of the Heart Walk as a vehicle to increase physical activity, fund essential research, and broaden access to heart-health education and resources within the state.
• The article quotes Porter on the honor of leading the Heart Walk and on the anticipated benefits of community-wide participation, suggesting a focus on awareness-building and practical action to improve health outcomes.

The piece reiterates AHA’s broad mission and its global footprint, underscoring the campaign’s alignment with broader health equity and community engagement goals.

The explicit mention of supporters signals a stable network of community and corporate collaborators.

• The AHA know-how is positioned as longstanding and nationally influential, with the organization described as a “relentless force” pursuing longer, healthier lives through research, policy advocacy, and care innovations.
• Local backing is noted from Delta Dental of New Mexico and Presbyterian Health, indicating sponsorship or partnership support for the 2026 Heart Walk.

The contact email is Sherri.Wells@heart.org, with registration and information hosted at NewMexicoHeartWalk.org.

• The article provides practical channels for involvement: prospective participants or volunteers can contact Sherri Wells or visit the event website to learn more and register.
• A brief institutional closing reiterates the AHA’s mission, the organization’s longevity in health information dissemination, and its global volunteer base, while directing readers to the AHA’s official online presence and a toll-free contact number for further engagement.

• The source content focuses on an organizational leadership announcement and event logistics; it does not present empirical data, outcomes, or evaluative metrics related to past Heart Walks or CPR education effectiveness within the NM context.
• Specific numerical goals (fundraising targets, number of participants, or CPR training benchmarks) are not disclosed in the provided text.
• The narrative does not mention potential safety considerations, accessibility accommodations, or plans to address diverse community needs beyond a general emphasis on health equity.

• The article conveys that Porter’s leadership is intended to sustain and enhance a statewide effort to mobilize resources, expand CPR education, and promote healthier lifestyles through community activity and corporate engagement.
• By situating funds locally, the piece implies a direct pathway from fundraising to community health improvements in New Mexico, aligning donor investment with regional capacity-building for heart-healthy education, research, and equitable access to resources.