Students at Brockport Barclay Elementary School raised more than $20,000 for the American Heart Association through the Jump Rope for Heart initiative, blowing the district record out of the water. One factor that may have piqued the students’ interest – a heart hero located right in the Barclay School.
Barclay launched the initiative in a new way this year: through a school-wide Jump Rope for Heart kickoff assembly. During the assembly, students discussed ways to maintain a healthy heart. They talked about the importance of exercising and healthy eating and learned how to take their pulse. Students also cheered on their teachers, who partook in a jump roping contest.
In addition, students were introduced to a heart hero currently attending the Barclay School. Paris Dony is in second grade and has already undergone three open heart surgeries. She was born with a condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, in which most of the structures on the left side of the heart are small and underdeveloped, especially the left ventricle. Paris will eventually need a heart transplant, but the goal is to wait until her body is bigger and stronger.
While she is unable to participate in physical activities that would put too much stress on her heart, Paris loves her school, teachers and friends.
Elliana Henick and Genevieve Contrera. Provided photo
The American Heart Association set the fundraising goal for the Barclay School at $20,000 this year; a number that school organizers expected to be unreachable given declining participation and last year’s school record-breaking total of just more than $18,000. Students this year raised a grand total of $20,145.22, with participation from 213 students (also a school record).
“I am so proud of the students and families that worked together to make this happen and thought of other people before themselves,” said organizer and physical education teacher Erin Waite. “What a great lesson in giving.”
All students that participated were entered in a drawing. Winners from each grade were selected at random to win a prize box from the American Heart Association. One winner was also drawn from a pool of students that donated more than $100. That student, third-grader Ada Miller, won a tablet.
Provided information
