PHOTO BY GAIL WICKERS
McNary Heights Elementary students jumped, skipped and hopped this year to raise more than $5,000 for the American Heart Association (AHA) in the school’s 20th annual Jump Rope for Heart event.
A national fundraising program, Jump Rope for Heart teaches children about heart health while raising money for research and educational programs. Students receive pledges and donations then participate in a day, class period or afternoon of jumping rope. At McNary Heights, students jump during their physical education classes. One full week is dedicated to jumping for the fundraiser.
“The students did a great job for the AHA,” P.E. teacher Lee Cody said Friday. “The JRFH event is a great way to finish the P.E. jump rope unit, and I believe the students learn about the importance of exercise and specifically heart health through the JRFH event.”
Students could jump with long ropes or short ropes, and one class even used the ropes for a limbo competition. One student – fifth-grader Jorge Ortega-Guzman – even set a school record by making 284 straight jumps without a miss in double Dutch.
All school students participated in the jump rope event, and students could choose to participate in the fundraiser. This year, 65 students raised donations and became “Heart Heroes.” Those students are rewarded with thank you gives from the AHA, and the school receives a certificate for P.E. equipment based on the amount raised.
At the end of the fundraiser, McNary Heights students raised $5,388.30 – the highest amount the school has raised in its 20 years of participation.
For the third consecutive year, Blake Wickers, now a fourth-grader, earned the title of top fundraiser by bringing in $2,300.
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