THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502010133
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
THE KIDS AT Great Bridge Middle School North put their hearts into jumping rope so they could save the hearts of others.
For the second year in a row, the school's physical education teachers organized and sponsored a ``Jump Rope for Hearts'' event to benefit the American Heart Association.
More than 100 students, mainly sixth- and seventh-graders, gathered at the school last week after class to jump rope. Friends and family supported their effort by pledging donations to the Heart Association.
Last year the students raised a little more than $1,000, said physical education teacher Sherry Handfinger. A group of 44 students participated.
This year's event saw 140 students, who tripled last year's total, raise $3,543.72, an achievement praised by both the event organizers and the Heart Association.
``So far, Great Bridge Middle School is the first school in Chesapeake to participate in the event,'' said Kathy Finney, Chesapeake area director for the American Heart Association. ``They really raised a lot. On an average, most schools raise around $1,000, so their total was exceptional. For only a second-time event, to raise over $3,500 is wonderful.''
``We were pleased with the kids' participation,'' Handfinger said. ``Their behavior was great, and they had fun. This group of kids we have now is one of the best we've ever had.''
Finney said other Chesapeake schools organize ``Jump Rope for Heart'' events around Valentine's Day or during the spring. This year, 15 other Chesapeake schools will participate.
Last year, all participating Chesapeake schools raised a total of $15,898 for the Heart Association.
``The funds raised will be used for research and education,'' Finney said. ``We start educating children about the heart, heart disease and good exercise and nutrition in kindergarten and go all the way to their senior year in high school.''
Handfinger said she and the school's other physical education teachers - Joceyln Brock, Hope Hodsdon and JoPaige Palmer - organized and supervised this fund-raiser using ideas and guidelines offered by the Heart Association.
Handfinger said the idea for a jump rope fund-raiser was suggested to the school's physical ed teachers by Ann Meyers, supervisor for physical education for Chesapeake Public Schools.
``She put in a plug and suggested we do this to help the Heart Association,'' Handfinger said. ``We received an information package to help us get organized.''
To promote participation, a glass case by the school's office was stocked with prize incentives. Students were able to win jump ropes, water bottles, T-shirts, back packs and volleyballs by raising certain amounts. The student who raised the most money, and won the most prizes, was sixth-grader Heather McCallister, who was responsible for adding $200 to the total.
Handfinger said students who signed up for the fund-raiser brought their money pledges with them to the jump rope event, which was held inside the school gymnasium.
``Each child approached family, friends and neighbors and collected donations from them,'' she said. ``But they were not allowed to solicit door-to-door.''
At the start of the event, all participants brought in their required release forms and collected money.
The students were divided into 24 teams, with six jumpers on each team. At least two youngsters had to be jumping rope at any time. In each team, two kids would jump for two minutes and rest for four.
``If you've ever jumped rope, you know that it's hard to do,'' Handfinger said. ``But that was the other part of the event: to stress good cardiovascular exercise. Before the event we talked to all the kids and asked them about the number-one killer of adults in America. We also talked about what the Heart Association does and also about prevention, nutrition and good exercise.''
All kids jumped to recorded beats featuring such popular top-40 radio artists as Ace of Base and TLC.
Handfinger said help was provided by 12 volunteer parents, some of whom even got into the thick of things and did a few jumps themselves.
Besides prize incentives, the jumpers were also awarded raffle prizes of donated gifts and services, snacks and orange drinks. All participants were also treated to a grand pizza party afterwards.
Handfinger said many local businesses helped make this a very successful fund-raiser. They included Pizza Hut Carry-Out, Andrea's Restaurant, Mr. Jim's Subs, Domino's Pizza & Subs, Chesapeake Pizza, Take One Video, Video Express, Zero's Subs, Wendy's, Burger King, McDonald's, Pollard's Chicken, Nestle's candy company and Sport Time. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Jackie Martin, left, and Heather Markley participate in ``Jump Rope
for Hearts,'' a fund-raiser for the American Heart Association.
by CNB