St. Peter's does the heart good

In February, students at St. Peter's Lutheran School raised $7,850 for the American Heart Association during the school's Hoops for Heart and Jump Rope for Heart events, part of a national effort to fight cardiovascular disease and promote fitness.Students began seeking donations and participating in event-related activities early in the month. Kindergarteners through fourth-graders focused on jumping rope and hula hoop activities, while students in grades five through eight participated in both jumping rope and basketball. On February 13, students were visited by Fort Wayne's Jumping Jax jump rope team.As an incentive for gaining donations, students earned prizes, including rubber ducks on keychains. There were six ducks available, so students worked even harder to secure donations so they could earn all the ducks. Any student in grades five through eight who raised $50 or more was eligible to play in the staff versus students basketball game.The Hoops for Heart and Jump Rope for Heart fundraisers culminated on Friday, February 27, with a visit from the Mad Ant, mascot of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and the staff-student basketball game."Our goal was to raise $2,500, so I was clearly blown away," says Krystal Sorg, who teaches physical education and spearheaded the American Heart Association events at St. Peter's. "We were told this was one of the highest amounts raised in Allen County. We're so happy to be able to donate this money to those in need and to spread God's love to others."Click here to view 21 Alive's coverage of the fundraiser.