Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 12, 1991 TAG: 9103120235
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The "Jump Rope for Heart" marathon in the multipurpose room at the school Saturday raised $1,566 for the American Heart Association. About 60 second- through fifth-graders and 20 parents participated, and you could feel the breeze from the twirling ropes.
"They know why they're doing this and they're having a good time doing it," said physical education teacher Debbie Rose, who organized the event.
The heart association donated ropes and door prizes and there was pizza afterward. "Yeah, it was good," said fourth-grader David Altizer about the pizza, adding that the marathon was "pretty cool."
He shrugged shyly when asked how he liked spending his 10th birthday jumping rope for three hours. "It was cool, but I'm tired," he said.
And so were some of the parents who volunteered to help the benefit's 11 teams. "This is a good deal for kids," said Karl Gohlke, who jumped and turned ropes through the morning with his son, Cody. "But I don't know about the parents! Weekends are supposed to be for mom and dad!"
"I couldn't have pulled this off without the parents' support," Rose said. "It would have been hard to do without volunteers."
And Cody Gohlke, 8 and a second-grader, said he had a super time and participated because he wanted "to get in shape." He also hopes to do it again next year.
All the jumpers received certificates at noon, when the final jumping commenced.
There were no major injuries, but some children wandered around displaying battle scars received from flailing hands and jump ropes. One mom massaged her son's neck after the event to help him relax.
"There's only been one nosebleed and a skinned knee, and other than that, I'm really pleased," Rose said.
by CNB