Missouri Western State University will host students from about a dozen local elementary schools participating in Jump Rope for Heart from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10 in the M.O. Looney arena. Students will jump rope to raise funds for the American Heart Association, which funds cardiovascular disease research and public and professional education programs. They will also learn about building a healthy lifestyle.

Funding from events such as Jump Rope For Heart have led to many lifesaving discoveries such as CPR, AEDs, pacemakers, bypass surgeries, open heart surgeries, artificial heart valves, miscosurgery and life-extending drug treatments.

The average heart beats 100,000 times each day. One of the best ways to take care of your heart is to make exercise a regular part of your everyday life. Jump Rope For Heart teaches students how exercise benefits the heart and shows students that volunteering can be fun and beneficial to the whole community. They learn how they can make a difference by providing important community service and having a great time at this fun-filled family event.

For information about Missouri Western’s Jump Rope for Heart, contact Dr. Regan Dodd, assistant professor of health, at rdodd@missouriwestern.edu or 816-271-4474. For more information about the American Heart Association, call your nearest office at 1-800-AHA-USA1 (1-800-242-8721).

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.