One Cunningham rides for another to raise heart health awareness

PHOENIX — On a November day in 2016, Arizona Coyotes’ minor league hockey player Craig Cunningham’s career came to an abrupt end.

Just before a Tucson Roadrunners game, Cunningham went into cardiac arrest. But emergency responders and Tucson doctors were able to save Cunningham’s life.

Cunningham would face months of recovery in Tucson. An infection set in and Cunningham’s lower left leg was amputated.

Cunningham has since recovered and in March of last year, he joined the Coyotes as a scout — and even started to skate again.

Now Cunningham’s brother Ryan is showing a brother’s love: He began riding his bike more than 1,600 miles from Canada to Tucson to raise money for the All Heart Foundation.

“He was well inspired by the incredible work of the doctors and the nurses and everyone around and my attitude I guess toward the whole situation of accepting it and being happy to be alive,” Craig Cunningham said.

Cunningham said his brother was covering a long distance on his bike.

“He’s riding from our hometown to Tucson, Arizona, to promote heart health (and) heart screening,” said Cunningham.

Cunningham said it was moving when his brother approached him about riding his bike from one nation to another.

“It’s just kind of a heartfelt moment that he’s willing to go through this pain and agony to try and help my foundation and other people,” Cunningham said.

Why ride a bike 1,600 miles?

“I think it’s easier than running,” Cunningham said. “He (Ryan Cunningham) wanted to go that far of a distance. He wanted to do it from my hometown to Tucson,” Cunningham said.

Craig Cunningham said they are hoping to raise $50,000 through the bike ride.

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