Sacred Heart students are taking jumping rope to heart this week.
They're doing it not only to fight child obesity and heart disease, but also for their principal and physical education teacher.Around Thanksgiving in 2007, Principal Mary Ann Irwin had a heart attack. She's since returned to work. A few weeks ago, physical education teacher Ron Hutcherson had a triple bypass. Both medical incidents got everyone at the school to start thinking about heart health, Irwin said.
This week, Sacred Heart is participing in the Jump for Heart program, sponsored by the American Heart Association. Students in grades pre-kindergarten age 4 through sixth grade are all taking part. As of Tuesday afternoon, the pre-kindergarten age 4 students alone have collected $703.50, Irwin said.
According to information provided by Irwin, congenital cardiovascular defects are the most common cause of infant death from birth defects. Cardiovascular disease ranks as the No. 2 cause of death for children under 15 years old.
Today, about 16 percent of all children and teens in the United States are overweight.
Jump Rope For Heart is a national educational fundraising program that is sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, according to www.americanheart.org
This program engages elementary students in a physical activity (jumping rope) while raising funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research. Students ask friends and family for donations and receive thank-you gifts based on the dollars they raise. This educational program teaches physical fitness and promotes the value of community service to students and their families. It shows students that they can contribute to their community's welfare.
For the Jump for Heart program, Sacred Heart fifth- and sixth-grade students paired up with the schools' pre-kindergarten age 4 students and jumped Tuesday. The rest of the school will complete the Jump for Heart during physical education classes Thursday.
Pledge donations are still being accepted at the school or with any Sacred Heart student.
