The Manchester Enterprise
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Students raise money for American Heart Association
Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser raises $10,716 in donations
By Daniel Lai, Editor
PUBLISHED: March 20, 2008
Nearly 173 third and fourth grade students at Klager Elementary School participated in Jump Rope for Heart, a national fundraiser for the American Heart Association March 14.
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"We've been doing it for 16 years and I will probably continue organizing it until I retire," physical education teacher Sandy Sheats said. "The kids look forward to it every year. They start talking about it when they are in the first and second grade."
Sheats said the program benefits the students and the community because it engages students in physical activity while raising funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research.
"Students ask friends and family for donations and receive thank-you gifts based on the dollars they raise," she said. "By participating, students engage in physical fitness while promoting the value of community service. It shows students that they can contribute to their community's welfare."
Sheats said over the past 16 years, the school has raised $145,623 for the AHA. This year students raised $10,716.
"We're down a couple thousand dollars from years past, but I expected that with the way the economy has been," she said. "It's still really good for this size of a school."
Sheats said before the event, students were asked to write the name of a loved one they were dedicating their efforts for.
"So many kids can relate to this because they know someone who has had a heart attack or stroke," she said.
Tyler Grow, a third grade student, said he was jumping for his grandma, who died of heart problems. Fellow student Brendan Myers was jumping for his grandpa, who was also suffering from heart problems.
Allison Bash said she wanted to dedicate her effort to her grandma, who was diagnosed with diabetes. Classmate Megan Seames said though her grandpa died before she met him, she was dedicating her efforts to his memory.
"My grandma died on my dad's birthday and I love her. I never got to meet her," Olivia Tar said.
Third grade student Madison Andreone said she participated in the event because local heart doctors saved her father's life after he suffered a heart attack when she was 5 years old.
"If it wasn't for the Michigan heart doctors, my dad might not be here with us today," she wrote in a letter to Michigan Heart P.C., seeking a donation sponsorship for the AHA.
Mitch Holdwick, marketing coordinator for Michigan Heart, said the letter shows the level of commitment students have in finding a cure for heart disease across the state.
"Madison seems to be a very special girl and the least we can do is reach out to her and the community she lives in," he said. "Needless to say, her letter truly touched all of us here at Michigan Heart so without hesitation, we made a small donation in her name as a small token of our gratitude for her willingness to think of us and send the letter."
Holdwick also presented students with a copy of the children's book, "A New Heart for Alex," by Manak Sood, a cardio-thoracic surgeon who works for the Michigan Heart & Vascular Institute in Ann Arbor.
Sheats said every year she is amazed at the level of commitment Klager students exhibit for the fund-raiser.
"These kids have such big hearts and they love the idea of helping others," she said. "I'm glad we have such a loving community here in Manchester."
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