It Takes Heart to be a Hero at Oswego County BOCES

February 7, 2012 Submitted article

February is national heart month and in support of the American Heart Association’s It Takes Heart To Be A Hero campaign students at the Oswego County BOCES (OCB) Fourth Street School in Fulton organized a fundraiser and pledged to participate in a jump rope and basketball fitness challenge.

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<p>Oswego County BOCES student Glenn Carey II is pictured with Meg Gibbons from the American Heart Association. Gibbons joined in on many of the activities during the It Takes Heart To Be A Hero fundraising event at the school including one activity were she challenged the students to keep pace with her in traditional jump rope jump-off. Carey was the last student remaining in that activity.</p>

Meg Gibbons, a representative from the American Heart Association kicked off the fundraising campaign during a visit to the school in mid-January.

She shared with the students some interesting facts about the most important muscle in the human body, the heart, and said that eating vegetables, especially green vegetables, can help keep a heart healthy.

She spoke about the importance of physical activity and gave the students a preview of some of her fancy jump rope skills.

OCB Adaptive Physical Education Teacher Kelly Schulz reinforced some of Gibbons’ heart healthy messages during her January PE classes and helped the students practice their jump rope skills and basketball skills in preparation for the culminating fitness challenge which was held on National Wear Red (for women’s health) Day, Friday, Feb. 3.

OCB staff members joined the students’ fundraising campaign by volunteering to sponsor a student participating in the fitness challenge.

Special education classroom teachers helped each student compose a formal letter to their sponsor to explain the fundraiser and respectfully request a donation.

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<p>Oswego County BOCES student Nathan Huffman skips rope during the It Takes Heart To Be A Hero fundraising event at the school. Looking on is American Heart Association representative Meg Gibbons.</p>

Each letter was then followed by another letter thanking the sponsor for their monetary support.

In addition the following local organizations donated incentives for the students to participate in the fundraising campaign: B&T Sports, Cicero Twin Rinks Ice Skating, Green Acres Bowling Center, Lakeview Lakes Bowling Center, Fulton YMCA, Oswego YMCA, Toys-R-Us, Fat Nancy’s, Oswego Parks and Recreation Ice Staking, Subway and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Gibbons returned for the culminating event where she competed in the physical fitness activities with the students and collected a $365 donation help fund research to fight against heart disease and stroke.

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<p>Dustin Hoskins, a student at the Oswego County BOCES Fourth Street School in Fulton shoots a two-pointer during one of the basketball activities that raised money for the American Heart Association. Students at the school collected donations and pledged their commitment to heart health by participating in a variety of jump rope and basketball challenges at the school.</p>

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