Whispering Hills Primary School completed its annual Jump Rope for Heart campaign Feb. 3, raising money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and encouraging its students to live healthy lifestyles.
“It’s a good way to have kids be aware of how to keep their hearts healthy,” said kindergarten teacher and event organizer Azure McGhee. “I think it’s a great event for students to participate in.”
The event raised nearly $9,000 last year and while a slower economy has lowered expectations for this year’s campaign, McGhee says it will still bring awareness to work the foundation does.
“Things like this help to make people aware of the different foundations out there and the importance of them,” she said.
The school welcomed representatives from the Heart and Stroke Foundation on Jan. 16 for a kickoff event. The reps showed the students how to jump rope and why explained why exercising is good for the students’ hearts.
After the presentation, students began raising money to donate to the Heart and Stroke foundation. They could either pledge money online or ask family members and friends for cash donations. McGhee said the students have been able to raise $1,900 online.
On Jan. 30 the skipping began and the rhythmic thud of small feet hitting hardwood filled the gymnasium as over 400 students participated in daily 30 minute sessions throughout the week.
“Each class had their own time slot where they would go into the gym and skip,” said kindergarten teacher and event organizer Azure McGhee.
McGhee said even though skipping was difficult for some of the students, they had enjoyed trying to learn.
“My kindergarten kids had fun trying,” she said. “Some of them still aren’t capable of actually skipping yet but they tried hard for the entire 30-minute class doing the best that they could. They always try their best.”
