Parkland hosts Jump Rope for Heart

The most competitive athletic event on Parkland's campus this week was not on a field or a court. The College Center was the site of Parkland's first ever Jump Rope for Heart.

Parkland College’s Wellness Center and Parkland United for Student Health collaborated with American Heart Association to organize the event. 

For those unfamiliar with Parkland United for Student Health, it is a student-governed organization and is frequently called P.U.S.H. Its focus is to attract and encourage students who want to live a healthier lifestyle. All are welcome to join. 

"Every year they always put on a jump rope for heart," Josh Brock said about his children's elementary schools. Brock, an avid member of the student group, took that idea and brought it to the college campus.

The group has participated in numerous events throughout campus and the community in order to spread the message of a healthier lifestyle.

In it, she explains that the group provides services such as personalized diet assessment, smoking cessation assistance, alcohol and drug education, free fifteen minutes chair massages, free condoms, blood pressure readings and stress management counseling.

This organization meets in the Wellness Center. The Wellness Center and P.U.S.H. work together to advocate the importance of fitness.

Brock, a kinesiology major, firmly believes in the need for physical activity, and the idea of Jump Rope for Heart has a personal association for him. A close family member of his had some heart trouble and after witnessing the processes that occur, Brock decided it would be a great idea to bring attention to the necessity for a healthy heart.

A connection to the American Heart Association was made and the Parkland's Jump Rope for Heart was born. 

The American Heart Association focuses on all aspects of a healthy heart, including physical activity, which made this union a success. Donations received are used to help fund further research on heart disease.

Brock and the members of Parkland health family had no problem raising money.

"The way I spun it was that it was going to be 6 faculty members against 6 students," Brock said. "Place your bet in the form of a donation."

It yielded the expected result and the turnout was as planned. The students and faculty had a very positive reaction to the event.

There was quite a bit of competitiveness. The students fought hard, but in the end the faculty prevailed. The faculty was 743 jumps better than the students, a staggering margin.

Faculty/Staff volunteers included Chris Warren, Joe Omo-Osagie, Greg Square, Kelly Barbour-Conerty and Toni Burkhalter .

Student volunteers included Josh Osterbur, Clarence Outlaw, Joseph Talavera, Timothy Chapman and Ashton Guia.

With Brock graduating next year, he hopes his creation continues to thrive. "It'd be nice for it to be annual,” he said. “Hopefully somebody else will pick it up and keep it going."

He is also counting on the competitive nature of the students. "Now that the students know how good the faculty is, they'll want another piece of it next year,” he explained.

The money raised is still being tallied. All the proceeds are going to the American Heart Association to help treat heart disease. For those that are unaware, heart disease is the most common cause of deaths in the U.S. according to the American Heart Association. It affects 43 percent of all Americans. 

This event produced a webpage where donations can be made at any time. If any one wishes to donate, visit honor.americanheart.org/goto/PUSHjump.

More information about P.U.S.H. can be found in the article “A friendly “P.U.S.H.” toward a healthier life” on the Prospectus News website.