MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) — Students at Jennie Moore Elementary School are jumping for a cause.
Through the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge, students at the Mount Pleasant school raised more than $40,000, the most of any participating school in South Carolina.
The campaign encourages students to stay active while learning about heart health and helping others affected by heart disease.
Inside the school gym, students recently celebrated the end of the campaign with a jump rope contest, an activity educators say helps make exercise fun while reinforcing healthy habits.
Physical education teacher Jennifer Dawson said the excitement students bring to the contest often means they don’t even realize how much exercise they’re getting.
“The changes I see is they don’t even know that they’re really working out and helping their body because they’re so dedicated and determined to be in our jump rope contest,” Dawson said.
Dawson said students practice jump rope skills for weeks leading up to the event, working their way up to time goals based on their grade level — from about 30 seconds for kindergarteners to several minutes for older students.
School leaders say the program is about more than a fundraiser. They hope it helps students develop lifelong habits around staying active and caring for their health.
The effort also teaches students the importance of helping others.
“To see the students come together to raise this much money for the American Heart Association, it just makes my heart so full and so happy,” Dawson said. “Not only do they do good for their bodies, but they’re raising money to help kids without healthy hearts.”
The funds raised through the challenge support the American Heart Association’s mission to fight heart disease and stroke through research, education and advocacy.
Rachel Stanley, the organization’s school engagement director, said the generosity shown by the school community stood out statewide.
“We are just so proud of the generosity from Jennie Moore Elementary School,” Stanley said. “They have raised over $40,000 to support the American Heart Association and currently ranking them number one Kids Heart Challenge school in South Carolina.”
Stanley said programs like the Kids Heart Challenge also teach students about heart health and the warning signs of stroke while encouraging them to stay physically active.
The money raised will go toward the American Heart Association’s broader mission to combat heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.
“The funds raised through Kids Heart Challenge will help support the mission of the American Heart Association, which goes to research, education, to fight the number one killer, heart disease,” Stanley said.
Educators say events like this show students that something as simple as jumping rope can help build healthy habits and compassion at the same time.
Copyright 2026 WCSC. All rights reserved.