What is Jump Rope For Heart

Jump Rope For Heart (JRFH) is a national fundraising program sponsored jointly by AAHPERD and AHA. JRFH is a valuable program that promotes physical activity, heart healthy living, and community service to children.  JRFH is targeted at students in elementary schools, but anyone can hold a program at their school, child care center, community center, or anywhere!

Jump Rope For Heart...

• Is a fun event!
• Promotes community service
• Is an educational program for elementary school students
• Raises money to fund lifesaving research and educational programs 
• Teaches students to set and achieve goals and discover that they can make a difference!

The elementary school years encompass a time when children should establish a strong foundation for movement skills. These are also the years when positive learning experiences can help establish a positive attitude and appreciation for participating in regular, daily physical activity for life. The best reason of all to join this event is that kids love it!   

History

In the late 1970s, Jean Barkow, of Milwaukee Riverside High School, held the first “rope-a-thon” with her local AHA chapter. Following the event, Jean attended an AAHPERD Public Relations Conference in Chicago where she talked about her event with Faye Biles, chair of the NASPE PEPI Projects. They discussed the potential of that project as a national fund raising event and in 1977 Illinois held the first event as a pilot program. In 1978 the program went national and AHA and AAHPERD launched Jump Rope For Heart.

AHA and AAHPERD formed an agreement that shaped the program and includes an educational component to promote cardiovascular health in the schools. The Joint Projects Committee was established with volunteers from AHA and AAHPERD to help develop new ideas for the program. 

Jump Rope For Heart demonstration teams helped in the promotion of the fund raising event. The teams traveled to schools to promote jumping skills and the event. The first jump rope demonstration team was formed in Colorado.

Each participating state established state task forces and representatives were invited to national workshops where participants shared ideas on fund raising, educational materials, and demonstration teams. Eight national workshops were held before regional workshops were established to help involve more people

Benefits for Your School

Jump Rope For Heart...

• is a great service learning project that offers students a terrific way to learn about community service
• integrates physical activity and critical thinking skills as students learn about, and participate in the event
• encourages cooperative activity
• provides a fun way to support physical and health education standards
• gives your school gift certificates for physical education equipment based on dollars raised

Jump Rope For Heart helps fund research and educational programs that impact your community - an important reason to participate. But the best reason of all to join this event is that kids love it!

Your school will be eligible for gift certificates for physical education equipment based on the amount raised by your JRFH event

Single Jump Rope Skills

• Forward Straddle
• Straddle Cross 

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