Students at St. Tomas Aquinas raised $5,800 for the American Heart Association. To conclude their fundraising efforts, 65 students in grades kindergarten through sixth participated in heart healthy activities Thursday afternoon.

St. Thomas Aquinas School gymnasium was filled with a flurry of activity Thursday afternoon. Sixty-five students got active to raise awareness about heart health. The students concluded their fundraising efforts with a two hour activity session to get their blood pumping. Donations were totaled at the end of the day and $5,800 was raised.

“We’re doing this for The American Heart Association’s Jump for Heart,” said St. Thomas P.E. teacher Mary Engstrom. “The kids have been raising money and donations for the American Heart Association and we are ending it with a fun afternoon doing lots of heart-healthy activities for two hours.”

The kids got to play basketball, jump rope, play twister, tumble, and toss the afternoon away.

“I have eight different stations set up with activities that are good for their hearts,” Engstrom said. “We have two stations that are jumping rope because it is a Jump for Heart. We do short jump ropes and then we also do the long jump rope where two people twirl, do some double dutch, things like that.”

Engstrom explained that many of her students know someone who has been affected by heart disease or has had a stroke and understand the importance of raising money for this cause.

“They get a little prize if they raise so much money, but they know it’s not about that prize and that they’re helping someone. They’re saving a life,” said Engstrom.

Engstrom said every year brings more fun and more awareness to The American Heart Association’s cause.

“It’s just a wonderful cause. We help The American Heart Association raise money so that they can do research on heart disease,” said Engstrom.

Last year, St. Thomas raised $8,000 for The American Heart Association, which was the highest amount in the history the fundraiser for the school.

“I never set a goal. I just tell the kids to do the best they can,” said Engstrom.

Engstrom thanked everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this year’s Jump for Heart.

“I just want to thank everyone. I have parents who come in and help me this day. I can’t put on a big event like this without the parents coming. They’re running the stations for me,” said Engstrom. “I want to thank the parents, the teachers, my principal and Sharon Smith, my secretary, she does all the counting of the money to find our total.”