Special reasons to jump for heart

Eight-year-old Bradley Allely had special reason to fundraise for the Heart Foundation’s Jump Rope for Heart.

Bradley, who is currently his school’s leading fundraiser, has seen his younger sister Jennifer go through heart surgery after she was born with transposition of the great arteries and a hole in her heart.

While Jennifer is now healthy at seven months old, it has been a long journey for the whole family.

The whole school got behind the cause on Thursday, with light rain proving no deterrent to taking part in an hour of jump rope activities for its jump off day.

About 190 of the school’s students rotated through nine jump rope activities before students showcased their individual skills.

The event concluded with the whole school skipping together in a sign of solidarity to the cause.

Established in Australia in 1983, Heart Foundation Jump Rope for Heart is renowned for being Australia’s most popular physical activity and fundraising program in schools.

More than 90 per cent of all Australian schools, involving eight million children, have participated in the fun and active program.

Each year Jump Rope attracts more than 300,000 students, in more than 1300 schools, with more than 500,000 sponsors comprising families, friends and members of local school communities.

The program is designed to encourage a positive attitude towards exercise, healthy eating and heart health.

With its nine-week fundraising window still open, the school is still taking donations.