Students at Peabody’s Brown School raise cash for heart, stroke research

PEABODY – Elementary students at the Brown School broke quite the sweat Wednesday afternoon during the American Heart Association’s 30th Jump Rope for Heart fundraising event.Nearly 50 third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders hopped around in pairs, groups or solo to raise money for heart and stroke research. Some were veterans of the event, others were participating in the good cause for their first time.”I do it because I like to jump rope and I have fun,” said fourth-grader Lexi Ingemi, who raised $250 this year over the Internet and with the help of close family and friends.”I like to exercise because it’s fun,” said Towvary Pop, in between jumps. “And it burns calories.”This is the seventh year that students at the Brown School joined the national jump-a-thon, but marks the 12th year for physical education coordinator Ed Fouhey. He first ran the program at the South Memorial School after learning of its existence through teaching CPR to fifth graders. His intention was to offer a fun alternative to day care while parents attended teacher conferences.Now, the fundraising event serves as the climax to the students’ jump roping curriculum.”It’s something they work towards,” he said.Each student is asked to pay a “cover charge,” to participate. There’s no limit to how much they can donate, said Fouhey. Some submit $1, others submit $10, $20, or even hundreds of dollars. Various prizes were awarded to students, depending on how much they raised.Over the past seven years, an estimated $14,000 has been raised through the program, said Carly Cavanagh-Richard, youth marketing director for the American Heart Association. It was unknown Wednesday how much the students raised this year, but a hefty $1,000 donation from Garelick Farms certainly helped boost their total, she said.Garelick also donated milk, juice, snacks and prizes to help the jumpers recharge. And, if the school raises at least $1,500, the company will give them an additional $100 gift certificate to purchase physical education equipment – a gift Fouhey said comes in handy.”We teamed up to help the school out, to help Ed (Fouhey) out, and most importantly, to help out the kids,” said Cavanagh-Richard.Elementary school principal Elaine Metropolis stopped in to cheer the students on.”I think this is absolutely fabulous,” she said. “Anytime we get kids active and involved in something for the community or a worthwhile cause is good. I love it. I just think it’s great.”The students seem to think so, too.”I feel happy for them,” said fourth-grader Gianna Porfido, referring to those the research will benefit. “They deserve a good life, too.”