GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — One year ago, 16-year-old Jack Belsito went into cardiac arrest sitting at his dining room table.
"I had no idea that I had anything to do with a heart condition before anything happened to me," said Jack.
Thankfully, his family knew CPR and jumped into action to do chest compressions.
"If we hadn't known how to do CPR, Jack might be in a very different situation," said Joe Belsito, his father.
Jack spent some time in the hospital, afraid his life would change. However, a year later, he is back playing golf and hocky. He is also preparing to go to Michigan State University in the fall to study biology.
"I'm super excited get to learn more about the stuff that the doctors were able to do for me," said Jack. "And hopefully give back to other people who are struggling."
Jack and his family are walking in the Grand Rapids Heart Walk this fall. The American Heart Association announced the return of the Grand Rapids Heart Walk this year. The event was last held pre-pandemic in 2019.
The Grand Rapids Heart Walk will be on Saturday, October 5 at 9 a.m. at Aquinas College. Registration is now open for individuals or teams.
"The American Heart Association's goal to bring more awareness about CPR to business, places, to just random bystanders," said Joe. "If that can help kids like Jack survive their own cardiac events, then that's something that we're all for."
The Belsitos are now urging others to learn the lifesaving skill of hands-only CPR.
"So many people are more likely to experience a sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting where there aren't nurses and doctors there who know CPR," said Gretchen Belsito, Jack's mother. "And it happens probably more often than a lot of people think it actually does."
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death nationwide. Heart Walk participants are invited to share how their lives have been touched by heart disease and stroke, and share their inspiration for walking.
This comes as the American Heart Association celebrates its 100-year anniversary. The Heart Walk raises money in the fight against heart disease and stroke. One mission of the American Heart Association is to teach people how to use CPR.
On October 5, the festival and engagement area is open 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The main program begins at 10:30 a.m. The walk is from 11 a.m. to noon. The Heart Walk begins at Aquinas College Fieldhouse and travels through campus trails.
The family friendly event is open to the public. There will be health screenings, CPR demonstrations, wellness activities, a kid zone and a chance to celebrate survivors.
To register for the event, visit grandrapidsheartwalk.org.
To find a CPR class near you, visit The American Heart Association's website.
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