For 22 years, jumping rope has been a big deal at Malaspina elementary.
In that time, they've raised more than $72,000 for their efforts.
This afternoon at the school in the College Heights neighbourhood, the entire student population of 275 will be taking part in the event, a fundraiser for research and equipment for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
"Our goal was $5,000 and we're at $6,900 now," said Sheila Hepburn, a Grade 3 teacher's aid and Malaspina parent who is organizing the project. "The kids have just done incredible work. This is the most we've ever raised."
To create awareness of the program and encourage physical fitness, each student was given a red paper heart to fill out a list of the activities they had undertaken to increase their heart rates. Those hearts have been posted around the entrances to the gymnasium.
Today at 1 p.m., all students will take their ropes outside and start skipping. If it's raining, the group will be divided into two groups -- primary (kindergarten to Grade 3 and intermediate (Grades 4-7) and the event will be held over two hours in the gym.
"As soon as we say Jump Rope for Heart they all have their skipping ropes outside and they're practicing," said Hepburn, who will have some organizational help today from the College Heights secondary school leadership group.
"They get right into it, it's fun."
Individual students are eligible for prizes, depending on how much they raise. One student --- Natasha Kozlowski -- raised $439 on her own.
