CRES Raises 25K for Healthy Hearts and Fun
The Kids Heart Challenge is an annual month-long event where students learn about their hearts while helping others by raising money for the American Heart Association. Coastal Ridge Elementary School’s (CRES) second through fourth-grade students have been involved in this American Heart Association campaign for over 25 years.
Mr. Johnston, CRES’s Physical Education Teacher, has led the Kids Heart Challenge campaign for several years. This year’s campaign became extra special when CRES’s fourth-grader Wesley Ethridge spoke at a school assembly about his journey as a heart transplant recipient at the age of one. Wesley’s story helped students understand how important heart health is, making the campaign and learning about heart health feel more important than ever.
During the campaign (January through February), students learned about cardiovascular endurance and how the heart pumps blood and oxygen throughout the body. They discussed what it means to have a healthy heart and how to maintain one. When talking about children born with certain heart ailments and what they go through at young ages, they recalled Wesley’s story and why the Kids Heart Challenge is so important.
Mr. Johnston also added extra challenges to CRES’s fundraising this year, giving the children additional fun incentives to raise money. If the students raised 16K, Mr. Johnston would wear a silly costume in school (which explains why Mr. Johnston visited classrooms and greeted buses in an outfit that made it look like he was riding an ostrich!). If the students were able to raise 18K, the two classes that raised the most money in each grade would get to “pie” their teachers. If students were to raise 20K, Principal Harris and Mr. Johnston would get slimed! Incredibly, the kids were able to surpass each goal, raising an extraordinary $25,040.94 for the Kids Heart Challenge!
Last Wednesday, on an unusually warm and sunny March day, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Harris, and six brave CRES teachers proved they are good sports. They smiled in front of a cheering crowd of CRES students and other assorted spectators as they were pied and slimed. As an extra bonus, one student from each winning class was randomly chosen to smush/throw/apply the pies to their teacher’s face. It was all in good fun and a way to celebrate their fundraising successes.
In total, the second grade raised $10,205, the third grade raised $7,234, and the fourth grade raised $7,486. The total from CRES amounted to $25,040.94.
Mr. Johnston said that this year, he believed that “the students understood that, although the pies and the slime make raising money fun, we are doing this to help kids like Wesley. That is what is most rewarding for me. The kids get a feeling of accomplishment, and many have their parents to thank for being such an important part of their fundraising team. Teamwork, setting goals and working toward them, doing something to help others—all good life lessons to learn at this young age.”
Mr. Johnston was sure to thank his American Heart Association (AHA) representative Gary Urey, CRES’s staff (“We couldn't do this fundraiser without their support”), classroom teachers (“They let me steal important classroom time to promote this program, and then stepped up at the end to have pies smashed in their faces!”), and the parents (“They are very supportive of this fundraiser and many others. We couldn't do it without their willingness to make donations and solicit donations. They are amazing!”)
We all feel fortunate to be part of such a great team. Go CRES!