Second-grader jumps at heart-smart event

February is National Heart Month and schools across the nation were asked to create awareness with heart-smart moves. For Natalie Carroll, a second-grade student at Skyway Elementary, that meant jumping rope for 30 consecutive minutes with her physical education class as part of the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart challenge.

She thought jumping rope was fun, but there was a more important reason for the activity.

“I wanted to help people who had heart problems,” she said.

While learning Chinese jump rope and other jumping tricks this month, Natalie kept the memory of her father close by. He died last year at age 45 of heart disease. On the school’s “Jump in Honor of Wall,” Natalie added a Christmas picture of herself as a baby in her father’s arms.

“We have a lot of people in our family that have heart problems,” she said. “It’s important to have a healthy heart.”

Natalie’s mother, Karlene Behringer, lost her father to a heart attack, also, and many others in the family have died young or suffer with heart disease, which is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States.

To break the cycle, Behringer keeps the family active with basketball leagues and regular walks to the park. The family moved from Illinois to Coeur d’Alene in August and finds that there are plenty of activities to keep them moving year-round. Natalie has tried snowboarding and soccer and says she likes it here because there is “better air.” The family doesn’t miss the humidity of the Midwest and Behringer is impressed by the healthy food choices at school.

Natalie has been asking friends and family to contribute to her school’s fund-drive for the American Heart Association this month. The annual educational fund-raiser promotes the value of physical activity while showing children they can contribute to their community’s welfare. Students are asked to secure sponsors for their jumping and much of the money stays locally to help with education and prevention programs.

Physical education teacher Terry Hamilton took the Jump Rope for Heart challenge one step further by asking her students to raise $3,000 by Tuesday. If her students make that goal, she’s agreed to dye her hair flaming red. The top-earner will be awarded the privilege of P.E. teacher for a day.

Natalie has her eye on that prize, as well as the bonus, which is a lunch date with Mrs. Hamilton.

“She’s a very involved little role model in the classroom,” Hamilton said. “She’s very helpful.”

Natalie plans to continue her lifestyle of fitness by eating healthy foods a. She loves animals and would like to work as a canine police officer someday. She has volunteered as a pet sitter and attends an after-school enrichment class for girls in science.

Hamilton taught her students that jumping rope is a great way of staying fit because the gear is inexpensive and you can take it anywhere. Natalie found that jumping for 30 minutes was tiring, but enjoyed it anyway.

“I was really happy when we got to do it,” she said.

To contribute to the drive, contact Skyway Elementary School or ask your local school if it is participating in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart event.