By Ryann Heinlen
February is the month most associated with the heart, love, and the color red, but for more reasons than just Valentine’s Day. February is the American Heart Association Month.
“With Valentine’s Day, people tend to forget about all the things the Heart Association does, and I feel that it’s important for people to support an organization that works hard to help such a common health concern,” Nancy Sandoval, junior, said.
The American Heart Association is an organization dedicated to creating a healthier nation and helping those who suffer with cardiovascular diseases and strokes. The Heart Association sponsors workshops and seminars to make the general public more aware of ways to save lives.
The institution holds annual fundraisers that raise money for families dealing with heart disease while also keeping kids active. They involve two events: Jump Rope for Heart, for those under fifth grade, and Hoops for Heart, for all other ages.
“My favorite part of elementary school was always doing Hoops for Heart because we got to play the whole day,” Allison Orlinick, junior, said.
With nearly 787,000 killed by heart disease annually, it is the number one cause of death among Americans. The Heart Association is working to help victims and their families cope and recover while publicizing that keeping active is one of the many methods of prevention.
