Wake County students raise over $20,000 for American Heart Association

Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Morrisville continues to put their hearts into giving back to their community by participating in the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge. They have a track record of being one of the top fundraising schools in Wake County and, this year, raised over $20,000 to help fund research and help children with special hearts. To recognize their achievements, the school recently held a celebration for the students.

Physical education teacher and Kids Heart Challenge coordinator Coach Tommy Hagar was eager to explain why this effort is so important to him. “I’m passionate about the annual Kids Heart Challenge campaign and supporting the American Heart Association, now for 22 consecutive years, because I lost my dad, still the best man I've ever known, in 2006 to a heart attack. In addition, our son, Will, had his first heart surgery when he was just one-month-old. He most recently had open-heart surgery to replace his ascending aorta. He is such a champ, a survivor, and one of my heroes,” said Coach Hagar.

This year’s theme was “Be the Torch” and, throughout the fundraiser, students participated in fun games and exercises during PE while learning about how to take care of their hearts using messages from the Kids Heart Challenge Heart Hero Dragons. The students learned steps they can take to live healthy lives, including eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of water, avoiding high-sugar drinks and getting at least 60 minutes of exercise or play every day. The students also learned the importance of staying away from bad habits like smoking and vaping. Families were also encouraged to visit the Kids Heart Challenge website.

The celebration included entertainment by the Apex Skip-Its, a performance jump rope team. In addition, various jump rope stations throughout the gym got the students moving and learning new steps. The only quiet moment occurred when Coach Hager called everyone’s attention to the unveiling of this year’s banner. Cheers erupted and everyone was all smiles for a job well done. More funds raised in order to save more lives. Lives just like Coach Hagar’s son, Will.

“When the cardiac surgeon told me that the American Heart Association had played a major role in researching and developing the synthetic fiber used to replace our son’s ascending aorta, I thought, “I’ll never NOT do this campaign for as long as I’m teaching. And each year, I will make a donation to the Association. They literally helped save our son’s life,” recounted Coach Hager.

To learn more about the program, or to enroll a school to participate, visit www.heart.org/kidsheartchallenge.