On Monday March 24th, students at Rainbow Creek Elementary held a special assembly to kick off their fundraising campaign for the Heart and Stroke Foundation by participating in their Jump Rope for Heart event. Two representatives from the Heart and Stroke Foundation spoke to the students about proper heart health and how to stay active and healthy. Special guest, Calgary Stampeder, Spencer Wilson, was also there to motivate students on the importance of eating well, exercise and staying healthy.
Supporting children’s health for more than 30 years, Heart and Stroke Jump Rope for Heart encourages kids to get active by skipping rope while they collect pledges for heart disease and stroke research. The program gives children the chance to jump and play alongside 750,000 other kids in more than 4,000 schools across Canada.
Research done by The Heart and Stroke Foundation shows that 32% of Canadian children are overweight or obese. They recommend that children get 60 minutes of physical activity every day. On average, children are sedentary for 9 hours a day and they recommend that children have their screen time reduced to no more than two hours per day.
As far as eating habits, their research shows that only half of youth eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables and that sugar sweetened beverage consumption is believed to increase risk of obesity and heart disease. Children should have four to eight servings of fruits and vegetables every day and should choose water for a healthy way to stay hydrated.
Over the past 8 years, the Heart and Stroke Foundation has invested nearly $3 million in strategic research in children and youth physical activity. Each year the Heart and Stroke Foundation gives back over $1,000,000 to support healthy school communities thanks to fundraising programs like Jump Rope for Heart.
Since its start, over 60 years ago, the Heart and Stroke Foundation has played a leadership role in the study, prevention and reduction of disability and death from heart disease and stroke in Canada. After decades of growth, the Heart and Stroke Foundation reached a giant milestone in 2011, when the national office and nine independent provincial chapters united to become one strong, national organization. Today, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is at work in communities from coast to coast, and has 140,000 volunteers, close to two million donors and more than 600 full-time employees.
Here are a few impressive facts that speaks volumes to the important role this foundation plays in Canada:
- The death rate from heart disease and stroke has declined by more than 75 per cent since the Foundation’s beginnings in 1952.
- There is still a lot to do: Heart disease and stroke remain a leading cause of death for Canadian men and women, and 9 in 10 have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke.
- Eighty percent of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable.
- Changing demographics make the issues even more urgent, with the aging of the baby boomers and a younger generation facing increasing risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
- •The Foundation raises funds through the generosity of about two million donors across the country, and by partnering with corporations to fund initiatives that improve the health of Canadians.
- The Foundation receives no operational funding from government sources.
The Foundation reports that since 1956, they have raised and invested more than $1.39 billion in leading-edge heart disease and stroke research. They credit the ongoing and valuable efforts of volunteers and donors across this country for the fundraising success they have celebrated.
The students of Rainbow Creek Elementary have set out to raise $10,000.00 over the next few weeks and will be holding the Jump Rope For Heart event on April 17, 2015. Participating schools can receive a portion of proceeds back from the Heart and Stroke Foundation to support the purchase of physical education equipment or to assist with other School needs.
Good luck students at Rainbow Creek Elementary!
