CH Campbell students jump for the heart of it

October 21, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

By christine keeling

Canfield kindergarten through third-grade kids got excited about cardio as they watched their fourth-grade classmates perform jump-rope stunts.

C.H. Campbell Elementary school kicked off its annual Jump Rope For Heart campaign Thursday during an assembly in the gymnasium. The school has participated in the event since 1997 and has raised $87,000 for the American Heart Association.

“We do it to promote what the American Heart Association is doing and to teach kids to help out in their communities,” said Ronnie Haurin, the school’s physical- education teacher.

But for one student, it was a chance to show off her accomplishment.

MacKenzie Durham spent weeks practicing her crossover move and was able to demonstrate it to the younger students.

“When she finally learned it, she was so excited,” said Travis Lavery, the school’s principal.

The fourth-graders pulled off a variety of tricks, including jumping over the rope while in a push-up stance, holding the rope under one leg while jumping on the other and crouching down to the floor while hopping.

Some jumped alone and some in groups, while the younger students waved their hands in the air and sang along with the music.

First-grader Tristan Marooun said he thinks he could roller skate and jump rope at the same time.

“When I jump rope, I can get 20 jumps,” he said.

This is his first year at the school and the first time he will take part in the fundraiser.

Shelley Webber, youth-market director for the heart association, said every school that participates makes a difference.

More than 70 schools take part in Jump or Hoop For Heart fundraisers in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

The money, she said, goes toward research and education.

The heart association’s goal is to improve cardiovascular health in all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent by 2020.

Students get thank-you gifts such as a water bottle, jump rope and soccer ball, for raising money, and schools can earn gift certificates to purchase gym equipment from US Games, said Webber.

The Canfield students received packets to collect their donations and will jump rope during their Oct. 26 gym classes.

Haurin wants the students to learn that heart health is very important.