Tippecanoe Middle School physical education students display their support for the American Heart Association.

By SHERYL BROWNLEE
For the Record Herald
 
TIPP CITY - It was a “Red Out” at the Tippecanoe High boys’ basketball games on Jan. 20 and 21 to support the American Heart Association (AHA).

Tipp students Evan and Anna Gilliam both suffer from a heart condition and are national representatives for the AHA. Last weekend, the district hosted the AHA’s “Hoops for the Heart” campaign. Tipp City Schools were the first public school district to host this event. 

It's been done on a collegiate level before, but never at the school district level. Tipp City Schools served as a pilot for AHA.  Mother Emily Gilliam had the idea and each building had a building representative that spearheaded their building activities.  Together, the Tipp City district has raised $5,811.50 for the American Heart Association.

Each building created week long “Heart Healthy” activities to raise money and awareness for the “Hoops for the Heart” campaign. The high school dressed up each day and sold AHA shirts during lunch for $10.

The middle school physical education and health class did a cross-curricular set of lessons involving heart rate, exercise and target heart rate while exercising. The week ended with students competing against the staff in a hula hoop contest, jump rope contest and a basketball game.

L.T. Ball Intermediate had Heart Health Week. They sold T-shirts and hearts, and held themed dress up days like “Stomp Out” Heart Disease, where students wore crazy shoes and socks combination.

Nevin Coppock did their part for AHA by having theme days and selling red hearts and T-shirts. Third-graders  Brayden Underwood and Dylan Miller even shoveled snow to earn money to donate to the American Heart Association.

Broadway Elementary will be hosting Jump Rope for the Heart to raise money for AHA from Feb. 14-16.