By Caleigh Wells
For the fifth year in a row, Waddell Elementary School is expected to raise about $10,000 for the national Jump Rope for Heart initiative.
In the previous four years combined, students raised more than $50,000.
Jump Rope for Heart is a fundraising event that takes place at schools across the country, sponsored by the American Heart Association. The association seeks to educate citizens and provide research to combat heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death in Virginia.
Through Jump Rope for Heart, Waddell students learn about their health, their hearts and how to help sick kids around the country. Fundraising started in January and ended Friday. The money is still being totaled, but this week the students celebrated their efforts with a school-wide gym party.

“We do an obstacle course, we do jump roping and it’s basically just to say thank you for your hard work,” said Health and Physical Education Teacher Holly Snyder. “It’s just a huge movement party. Like what better than a PE party?”
Snyder has served as Waddell’s Jump Rope for Heart coordinator for five years. She said that before she became a faculty member at Waddell, the school’s participation in Jump Rope for Heart was minimal, raising less than $1,000 each year.
Laura Pearson is the parent of three children who have participated in the fundraiser at Waddell. She has volunteered at the party every year since her kids got involved.
“They get very excited about the fundraising part, and they love the Jump Rope for Heart day,” Pearson said.
Waddell ranked among western Virginia schools
Snyder said Waddell ranked ninth among more than 700 participating schools in Virginia in its fundraising efforts last year. Fairfield Elementary, Natural Bridge Elementary and Central Elementary participate as well. Last year, Waddell raised more than $16,000 – more than double the combined total of every participating county school.
Marianne Bechtle is the youth market director of the heart association for 15 counties in western Virginia, including Rockbridge County. She works with schools to help provide materials, ideas and lesson plans to increase education and fundraising. She said Waddell is especially successful with Jump Rope for Heart.
“We work with a lot of schools in the area, and [Waddell] is one of the schools that brings us a lot of money for the American Heart Association every year,” she said in a phone interview.
Bechtle said Jump Rope for Heart will celebrate its 36th birthday this year. She estimates that western Virginia will raise between $300,000 and $400,000. The money will be distributed both locally and nationally to doctors and researchers who apply for grants.
Education is key
In the weeks leading up to the big event, Snyder said she educates the kids about the purpose of the fundraiser and the importance of heart health.
“I talk to the students about why [the American Heart Association] is so important and preventing heart disease and obesity and getting daily exercise,” she said. “Without people at the [association], research and technology would not be available.”
Pearson said fundraising is not the only purpose of Jump Rope for Heart. Educating the kids about their hearts is an important part of the program, too.
“It’s encouraging to see them do things that are heart healthy and be aware that not every child is as healthy as they are,” she said.
Students receive prizes and the school receives new PE equipment depending on how much money is raised. Snyder said it makes the program fun and gives the kids incentives to participate.
“It’s a win-win-win,” she said. “You help people with sick hearts, you can get free stuff, we can get free PE equipment. So everybody ends up with what they’re looking for.”
Snyder said there is no single factor that sets Waddell apart as one of the best in raising money for Jump Rope for Heart. She said the school strongly encourages student participation but Waddell’s success would not be possible without the community support.
“I think it’s partly what we say. I think it’s partly the families we have. I think it’s partly just kids feeling like they want to make a difference in the community,” she said.
Snyder said the decision to participate is the kids’. She said they understand the importance of helping other people.
“It makes them feel like they’re part of a community, when they see all these other kids who are giving, and they want to belong to that,” she said.