Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart are national education and fundraising events sponsored by the American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). These events engage elementary and middle school students with jumping rope or playing basketball while empowering them to improve their own health and help other kids with heart-health issues.

Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart Help Students Grow! Kids learn the value of community service and become empowered to contribute to their community's welfare. Children join together in helping other kids with special hearts. Students learn how to develop heart-healthy habits while being physically active Participants learn jump rope and basketball skills they can use for the rest of their lives. Students help your school earn gift certificates for free P.E. equipment!

How It Works.... Jump Rope For Heart or Hoops For Heart events are conducted in school 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. Once you register, you'll receive an event kit with everything you need to conduct a successful Jump Rope For Heart or Hoops For Heart event:

What You Do Step-by-step instructions on scheduling, promoting and conducting the event. Heart-healthy curriculum to support heart awareness with the event. Tips for fund raising. Participants ask friends and family for donations. Our online tool makes raising money even easier! Training and support from an experienced American Heart Association staff person or volunteer.

How Your Dollars Help Abigail Ellis Abigail Ellis was born with several serious heart defects. After several procedures and two open-heart surgeries, Abigail is an active first grader who likes gymnastics, dancing and swimming. For the past seven years, Abigail’s family has organized a team in the Nashville Heart Walk called Abigail’s Angel’s, and with the support of their family members and friends they have raised over $15,000 for the American Heart Association. People like you make a difference in the lives of people like Abigail. Some of the procedures Abigail had are no longer necessary because of advances in medical technology funded by the American Heart Association. She is doing well but will probably need more heart surgery in the future. Continuing to fund research through the American Heart Association will help Abigail and others to live. dJ4http:// dJ4 For another survivor story

Works Cited Information taken from Jump Rope for Heart hools/For- Schools_UCM_313648_SubHomePage.jsp hools/For- Schools_UCM_313648_SubHomePage.jsp Video of Brynna’s story