This fall, thousands of people will lace up their walking shoes in Los Angeles and Dallas with a shared goal: helping build healthier communities and save lives.
The American Heart Association’s Heart Walk brings together survivors, families, friends, coworkers and communities to raise funds and awareness in the fight against heart disease and stroke. This year, DIRECTV employees will be among those taking part, with DIRECTV teams participating in both the Greater Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk and Dallas Heart Walk.
And because every good walk deserves a soundtrack, DIRECTV has put together a Spotify playlist with a theme especially fitting for the occasion: every song has “heart” in the title…and see if you can spot the (still fitting) exception!
What is the American Heart Association Heart Walk?
Heart Walk is a nationwide American Heart Association initiative designed to bring communities together around heart and brain health while raising money to support lifesaving work.
Funds raised through Heart Walk help support research, CPR education and other efforts aimed at saving and improving lives. The events also provide an opportunity to celebrate survivors and remember those affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
One major focus this year is helping more people become prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies. According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals in the U.S. each year. Immediate CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, yet fewer than half of people experiencing cardiac arrest receive it.
That makes every step at Heart Walk part of something much bigger.
2026 Greater Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk
The 2026 Greater Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk takes place Saturday, Oct. 3, at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, with event activities beginning at 7 a.m.
DIRECTV will be represented by the DIRECTV Tech Steppers team, joining organizations, families and individuals from across Southern California to support the American Heart Association and its mission.
When: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
Where: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
Event begins: 7 a.m.
Participants can register to walk, join an existing team, form their own team or support the event with a donation.
2026 Dallas Heart Walk
Two weeks later, the 2026 Dallas Heart Walk will bring the North Texas community together on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Levy Event Plaza in Irving.
The event begins at 8:45 a.m. and features both 1-mile and 5K routes. Participation is free, with fundraising encouraged, making it easy for walkers of different ages and abilities to get involved. Thousands of survivors, families and corporate and community teams are expected to participate.
DIRECTV employees will be there, too, walking together as the DIRECTV Dallas Engagement Zone team.
When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Where: Levy Event Plaza, Irving, Texas
Event begins: 8:45 a.m.
Routes: 1 mile and 5K
How to get involved
There’s more than one way to support Heart Walk. Participants can register and walk, create or join a team, raise funds or make a donation to support another participant or team.
And wherever the walk takes place, DIRECTV has a playlist ready to help keep those steps moving.
The DIRECTV Heart Walk playlist puts a musical spin on the occasion with songs connected by one little word: heart. Queue it up while training, play it on the way to the event or make it the soundtrack for every mile on walk day.
So grab some comfortable shoes, turn up the music and get moving for a cause that touches millions of lives. Whether walking in Los Angeles, Dallas or supporting from somewhere else, every step can help move the American Heart Association’s mission forward.
