Kids Stay Active, Raise Funds for Heart Association

by Pamela Willis


Wearing neon-bright colors, students at Reynoldsburg's Waggoner Road Middle School danced to music, spun hula hoops and dribbled and tossed green, glow-in-the-dark basketballs.

The Hoops for Heart celebration in the school gymnasium May 13 raised $1,500 for the American Heart Association.

"It's a fun event for our kids and great way to keep the kids active," teacher Kayla Shortridge said.

The students sported lighted glow necklaces, although the gymnasium was not really dark, thanks to windows so high they could not be covered.

Shortridge said students collected donations from family and friends through an online fundraising page provided by the American Heart Association at heart.org.

She said the organization provides a representative to talk to students to kick off each fundraiser, for either Jump rope for the Heart or Hoops for Heart events.

In Hoops for Heart, students learn basketball skills in physical education classes a few weeks ahead of time and begin collecting money. Hoops for Heart Day is the culmination of the fundraiser, complete with snacks, music and time in the gymnasium to shoot hoops or socialize.

Read more in the The Reynoldsburg News