Jumping for heart health
<p>Ashlynn Hartley and Mark Holeck run through the mouse trap station at the Jump Rope for Heart event at Ramsey Elementary on Friday afternoon. Second through fifth graders collected sponsorship to participate in the event which raised money for the American Heart Association</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Children ran and jumped around the school gym, working their hardest to pump up their little hearts and raise funds for the American Heart Association.
More than 200 students at Ramsey Magnet School of Science participated in Jump Rope for Heart on Friday, an event the school has held for the past 16 years to promote American Heart Month in February. Heart disease is the nation's No. 1 killer, according to the American Heart Association.
"The kids get all excited about jumping rope, raising money," said Trena Burt, physical education specialist at Ramsey. "We always talk about kids that need new hearts."
The students begin practicing three weeks prior to the event, participating in different fitness activities including Chinese jump rope, long rope and short rope. Everything they have learned then comes together during the Jump Rope for Heart event. The students go through 10 fitness stations that are placed around the gym. Five of the stations are jump rope stations and the other fitness stations included limbo, a climbing wall, bouncy ball and jumping on the trampoline. At the last station, the students get to drink water and rest.
"Last year we raised $11,000," Burt said. "My teachers are awesome; I couldn't do it without them."
She said it's a school effort. The administration throws its support behind it, and the teachers adjust their schedules to help make it happen.
Parents and teachers were on site to help the students transition from station to station. Even the kindergarten students were able to participate during their physical education class.
Wyatt Johnson, 8, and Neil McCarthy, 9, both third-graders, said their favorite thing about the event is that they're having fun and helping save other children's lives. Wyatt said his favorite station is the bouncy ball and Neil favors the trampoline.
Wyatt said with his participation, he "hopefully saved a couple lives."
Burt said last year was the school's best year. "They introduced these ducks. The kids could earn so many ducks for different money amounts. So that was huge," she said.
Each student receives an envelope where they write down who they are jumping for, whether that person is their grandpa, grandma or someone they know who has had a heart condition, Burt said. The students then give the envelope to Burt.
"My dad died of a heart attack, so this is why this is real close to me," she said.
She loves watching the children enjoy their time jumping. The students learn a lot about giving back to their community and staying healthy during their physical education classes. Burt said they talk about healthy hearts and healthy food choices all year long.
Taylor Walker, 9, and Keelyn Brouse, 8, both third-graders, said they enjoy the event because they are working to raise money for people who have heart disease.
"We get to help people that have heart surgery, so they can get better," Keelyn said.