Jump Rope for Heart celebrates 30 years of skipping for health

&NewLine;<p><img class&equals;" alignright size-full wp-image-1469" src&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;schoolnewsnz&period;fastrackdev&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2015&sol;05&sol;SND15-wk2-skipping&period;jpg" alt&equals;"SND15-wk2-skipping" style&equals;"margin&colon; 5px&semi; float&colon; right&semi;" width&equals;"300" height&equals;"209" &sol;>Jump Rope For Heart&comma; a free physical activity programme run by the Heart Foundation&comma; is marking its 30th birthday this year&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p> <&excl;--more--> <&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>To celebrate the occasion the Heart Foundation is encouraging all schools to get involved in the programme&comma; which is designed to help school children learn about the importance of physical activity&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Shabana Stuart&comma; from the Heart Foundation&comma; says Jump Rope For Heart has helped over 2&period;4 million Kiwi children learn to skip since 1985&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;Jump Rope is all about teaching Kiwi kids to look after their hearts by learning a variety of skipping skills&comma; while having heaps of fun with their school friends&period; Getting children moving from an early age is so important because it sets them up for a lifetime of good heart health&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Ms Stuart says the programme also helps children learn about heart disease and what the Heart Foundation is doing as a charity to address its prevalence in New Zealand&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&&num;8220&semi;Almost 65&comma;000 children took part in Jump Rope For Heart last year&comma; raising a massive &dollar;140&comma;000 to support the Heart Foundation&period; Through their fundraising&comma; we&&num;8217&semi;re able to put money back into the programme and continue reaching Kiwi kids with our heart-healthy messages&period;&&num;8221&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>Jump Rope For Heart also helps children learn about leadership&comma; communication&comma; teamwork&comma; balance and rhythm&comma; Ms Stuart says&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&nbsp&semi;<&sol;p>&NewLine;