MARLBOROUGH – About 100 students at the Charles W. Whitcomb School joined together on Tuesday, Feb. 27, for some heart-healthy exercise at a Jump Rope For Heart event.
Jump Rope For Heart is a national education and fundraising event sponsored by the American Heart Association and the Society of Health and Physical Educators. The Marlborough Public Schools have participated in the program for 25 years.
As part of the Whitcomb event, school officials were presented with a $1,000 gift card from the American Heart Association and Boston Scientific, a Marlborough-based medical device manufacturer, which will be used to purchase new physical education equipment.
Bernice Moffa, a wellness and physical education teacher at Whitcomb and the school coordinator of the event, said she is grateful for Boston Scientific’s support and for all the students and families who have donated to Jump Rope For Heart.
Through Jump Rope For Heart, kids learn jump rope skills, how their heart works and raise money to help kids with heart conditions. Besides jumping rope, Whitcomb students participated in a trivia contest. Their knowledge was tested on a variety of topics, including heart attack and stroke warning signs, sodium content in foods, high blood pressure, and physical activity.
“Studies show that positive behaviors learned during childhood are more likely to be repeated into adolescence and adulthood,” said Mary Blake, the American Heart Association’s vice president of youth market programs in Massachusetts. “Jump Rope for Heart is a great way to start healthy habits early – and it’s fun, which keeps them coming back year after year.”
Jump Rope For Heart events are conducted in schools by physical education instructors, coaches or teachers. They can be scheduled whenever it’s most convenient – during physical education class, lunch or before or after school. Participating schools receive an event kit with everything needed to conduct a successful event. For more information, visit the Jump Rope For Heart website.