Still Dedicated After All These Years
By: Mary Kennedy, ILAHPERD JRFH/HFH State Coordinator

After almost 30 years of doing the Jump Rope For Heart program I am hanging up my ropes for retirement from teaching and holding the event. During the last month I have taken the time to reflect on all of the events I’ve held and been a part of.

The first event I was involved with was a school district wide program held at a local armory. I can still remember looking at over 500 students jumping rope. It was an amazing sight. As the years went by it became easier to hold the events at individual schools. Themes like the 50’s, Hawaiian, or Western kept the student involved in the event. Then finally it became a week long event for my students during their regular physical education class periods.

For me it became a personal quest to help fight against heart disease and stroke when I lost my best friend to stroke and a former student named Mike to heart disease. The year that Mike passed away I dedicated the week to him. He had also participated in the event as a student. I know in some small way it helped ease the healing process with both of these personal losses.

The events I’ve held weren’t the largest nor did my students bring in the most money, but the students participated every year. I hope that in some small way I have affected the lives of all of the students who participated for at least a couple of generations.

After retiring I still plan on volunteering my time for the American Heart Association and AAHPERD as the state coordinator. I have seen first hand all of the great programs, grants, and research that the event has provided.

I don’t think anyone could have envisioned that the Jump Rope For Heart and the later Hoops For Heart programs would be as strong and growing after all these years. It has been great being part of the history of this event.