Skipping, jumping, running — Jump Rope for Heart harnesses all that energy for a good cause in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Kids collect pledges for the foundation, and then skip in the school yard — not only raising funds to support heart research and programs, but also embracing healthy activity.
Students at Fieldcrest Elementary School in Bradford West Gwillimbury held their Jump Rope for Heart event on Wednesday.
The youngest grades did less skipping and more parachute games, racing, hula-hooping and jumping over mini hurdles, as they moved from activity station to station.
“The nice thing is our Grade 7s and 8s run the stations,” said teacher Donna Twardowski, who organizes the school’s Jump Rope for Heart.
“We have a $4,000 (fundraising) target,” Twardowski said, noting that “every year for the last six years we’ve raised more than that” through the school-wide event.
“If we reach the target, we’re going to mummy-wrap our principal in coloured streamers” at a special assembly on the last day of school.
Different grades headed out into the school yard at different times for the all-day event — jumping, skipping, raising funds, and having fun on a sunny spring day.
