Jumping for a healthy heart

Healthy hearts and happy faces abounded Friday at Bordewich-Bray Elementary School as the jump rope club double-dutched and double-undered during a show that received applause and whistles from the student body.

"These kids spent a lot of time practicing in the morning before school," Principal Sue Keema told the students seated on the floor before the jump ropers started. "These kids spend a lot of time working on these tricks to be able to do them for you."

February is National Heart Month and Bordewich-Bray does an annual fundraiser called Jump Rope for Heart, sponsored by the American Heart Association, to raise healthy-heart awareness.

"Jump roping helps your heart beat and it helps you get in shape," said Gehrig Tucker, 10, who's been on the jump rope club for about a year. "And it helps you to run faster."

Four of the six elementary schools in the Carson City School District participate in the fundraiser and a small portion of money raised, about 10 percent, goes back to the school. The rest of the money goes to heart research, education and community programs.

Students at Bordewich-Bray usually raise about $1,500 each year, which means physical education Teacher Linda Hurzel gets about $100 to use for gym supplies.

"(Jump-roping) is a great way to get exercising," said Hurzel, who has all of the students in her PE classes jumping ropes during the fundraiser. "We talk about the fact that some of us don't like to jog ... (but) you can use a jump rope anywhere. It's doesn't matter what the weather's like."

Friday's presentation started off with students jump-roping across the floor and back - backwards. Tunes like "Gloria," "It's Electric," "The Twist," and "We are Family" played as moves progressed to crossovers and walking egg-beaters.

"It went OK," said Gehrig after they finished. "I think we're going to do better later on. A lot of times we didn't know who was going to hold the rope."

The afternoon performance at Bordewich-Bray was for the younger students. But throughout the morning performance, Evan Carlson, 9, a jump roper for three years, wore a smile on his face.

"It was really fun because we practiced a lot," said Evan, who says you have to focus on the fun to avoid the exhaustion. "It was really fun to perform in front of the whole school - well, half the school."

Jump ropers also used pogo sticks and bouncy balls to hop over ropes.

"Those (ball) things are hard to get your balance on," said Jermaine Andrews, 10, who watched from the audience and used to be in the club but stopped going because he couldn't make the early times. "You have to squeeze the ball between your feet."

The jump rope club meets before school twice a week and was started by special-education teacher Dona Sharp three years ago. The Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser continues through next week. Students are asking those they know to donate.

-- Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

Heart attack warning signs

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach

• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort

• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

- Source: The American Heart Association