Teague Park students jump for heart health

Students at Teague Park Elementary in Caribou are jumping at the chance to fight heart disease and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. On April 18, Teague Park Elementary School will host the 11th annual Jump Rope For Heart event to raise money for the American Heart Association, which funds lifesaving heart and stroke research and community and educational programs for our youth.
Jump Rope For Heart teaches students how physical fitness benefits the heart and shows them that volunteering can be a fun and positive experience for the whole community. The need to educate children about the importance of physical activity couldn’t be timelier. According to recent  studies, about one-third of children ages 2 to 19 are overweight and obese.
“By including physical activity into their daily routines, kids can significantly reduce the onset and  burden of heart disease,“ said Amanda West, Teague Park Elementary Jump Rope for Heart coordinator.  “By raising money through Jump Rope For Heart, we are preventing heart disease and obesity for the next generation of Americans. Kids are literally jumping into a heart healthier life, while becoming passionate about raising money for other kids with sick hearts.”
For 35 years, Jump Rope For Heart has raised more than $818 million for the fight against heart disease and stroke. Millions of students have jumped rope and learned about heart health and how nutrition and physical activity can help prevent heart disease and stroke. Jump Rope For Heart is co-sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Please help our students help others by making a donation. To volunteer call West at Teague Park Elementary School at 493-4262 or the American Heart Association at 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721). You visit online at heart.org/jump.