A blizzard the day before could not cool off efforts of Mahomet-Seymour Elementary school students to raise money for the American Heart Association.
The annual occurrence, Jump Rope for Heart, is a national event designed to raise money, promote heart research and increase awareness of physical activity. Mahomet Seymour first through fifth graders participated in Jump Rope for Heart on Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26.
Those students had something else to celebrate. Once again in 2016, Mahomet Seymour Elementary students raised the most money in downstate Illinois.
According to Lu Rippy, Lincoln Trail Elementary physical education teacher, grades 3-5 raised more than $43,500 for the national event. Melinda Douglas, PE teacher for Sangamon, said 1st and 2nd graders chipped in an additional $29,500. Both totals represent school records from previous years.
Jump Rope for Heart is a national event sponsored by the American Heart Association. It started with a PE teacher from Milwaukee, in 1978. Kids in the Mahomet school system have participated in the event for the 23 years Rippy has been at Lincoln Trail, and for several years before that, according to Rippy.
The event’s purpose is to teach students and families how to take care of their hearts for life, according to materials provided by the American Heart Association. Money raised goes toward heart health educations, cardiovascular disease research, stroke research, and even back to the schools in the form of gift certificates for PE equipment. . The American Heart Association said 80 percent of the money earned goes toward this missions, according to information given out to parents of Jump Rope for Heart participants.
Locally, students in grades 1-5 are invited to create an on line account to accept donations, or go door to door to collect cash and check donations. This year, three students raised more than $1,000. They are:
Tucker Lovin, 2nd grade
Sean Summers, 5th grade
Jess Robinson, 4th grade
Three other students raised more than $500. They are
Hunter Griffith, 2nd grade
Preston Sriver, 2nd grade
Gabby Reeves, 3rd grade
In the past, incentives provided by the American Heart Association have revolved around a duck theme. This year, according to Rippy, the theme changed to puppies, which she said is perfect for the Bulldogs. And because of the theme, “Every Hero needs a Friend,” Lincoln Trail students had an opportunity to earn puppy themed incentives.
Most notably, students raising $150 or more had an opportunity to attend the Hero Lunch with Puppy Chow dessert, a dog trick video and some special guest puppies. Those raising more than $300 will have a private session with the animal experts from local business, All About Animals to learn about puppy care and play with some puppies. All About Animals, 305 S. Prairieview Rd. Mahomet, offers vet care, boarding, grooming, and PlayCare to local dogs and cats.
Other top earners can earn prizes like a limo ride to Jupiter’s at the Crossing in Champaign for a pizza and game party and a movie event, according to Rippy and Douglas. Any student earning more than $1,000 has his or her name on a poster in Lincoln Trail’s gym, and the top on line earners from Lincoln Trail and Sangamon have the gym named after him or her for the year.
Other students have opportunities to earn puppies. These pups, which have key rings so students can attach them to a lanyard or to their backpack, are earned for various prize levels. For a $5 donation, students earned “Super Pup” and a lanyard. The first on line donation earned a student “Ninja Star” Pup.
Students participating in the event enjoyed their time. They could choose between several stations, including jump rope, pogo sticks, stationary bike riding and the helicopter. Helicopter, where a person stands in the middle and twirls a long rope along the ground while students jump over it, was a crowd favorite. They also were encouraged to dress like this year’s theme, either as a super hero, or as one of the puppy incentives, such as Dr. Bow Wow, Capt’n Bark, or Soccer Pup, Rippy said.
Students were invited to jump in honor of a friend or loved one who experiences heart disease. While some students, like 4th grader Jacob Atteberry, said they are fortunate enough not to have anyone in their lives with heart disease, other students, like fellow 4th grader, Grace Collins, was jumping in honor of a friend. Riley Dowers, 4th grade, said he was jumping in honor of his brother who was born with a heart defect. He added the defect was corrected and now “he’s good.”
The event was described as “really fun” by students and it is something they look forward to every year. Thanks to the hard work of MS elementary students, The American Heart Association is one step closer to fulfilling their Goals for 2020.
Reducing deaths from heart disease and stroke by 20 percent.
Improve cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent.
The $73,000 raised by our students will help the American Heart Association achieve that goal.
