Students raise money to save lives

On behalf of the American Heart Association and the millions of Americans affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke, I want to thank the students, staff, parents and donors at the 38 Linn County schools that recently celebrated 35 years of Jump Rope for Heart this year. Along with other schools that participated in Hoops for Heart and Wear Red Day.

Cardiovascular disease and stroke account for about 28.4 percent of deaths in the county and unfortunately, our children are not immune.

Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart provide a fun activity to rally a school community around healthy lifestyle choices and encourages the helping of others. Students in Linn County certainly answered the call. They raised $182,112.32 to help save lives.

A special congratulations to the schools that had their best participation ever, including Springville Middle School, North-Linn Elementary, Francis Marion Intermediate, Trinity Lutheran School, Grant Elementary, Prairie Ridge Elementary, Emerson Elementary and Starry Elementary. We are thrilled to provide more than $11,100 in PE equipment to partner schools in appreciation of their efforts.

You too can help save lives with MyLifeCheck at www.mylifecheck.org. Our mission is in your hands. As students in Linn County have shown, we have many hands helping us.

Shayla McBride

Youth Market Director

American Heart

Association

Burlington