Student jumps rope to Disney World

Sixth-grader Breezy Tewalt enjoyed an exciting spring break week. Thanks to her skill in jumping rope and gathering sponsors for an American Heart Association fundraiser, she won a trip for her family to Walt Disney World in Florida.

“I was excited!” said Tewalt when she learned she was the national winner.

In her fifth-grade year at Sisters Elementary School, Tewalt participated in Jump Rope for Heart by getting sponsors and jumping rope. Because her donations reached the $150 mark, she was entered into a national drawing for a four-day, four-person trip to Disney World — and she won.

The Tewalt family waited until spring break when they had time to take the trip. An only child, Breezy took a girlfriend on the trip.

“Thank you to everybody,” said Breezy Tewalt’s mother, Thia.

“We couldn’t have done it without them” added mom of all the Sisters residents who sponsored her daughter.

Breezy especially liked the MGM Studios Theme Park at Disney World where she went on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror twice despite the hour-long wait.

The ride took her up 13 stories in the elevator of an old hotel, and then plummeted her down. She also enjoyed the Rock N’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith where she zoomed through Los Angeles’ freeways to the band’s music.

“I thought I had a lucky streak going,” said Breezy of winning the nationaldrawing.

Jump Rope for Heart promotes the value of physical activity to elementary school children while showing they can contribute to their community’s welfare.

Also it helps establish a positive attitude for participating in regular, daily physical activity.

By jumping rope and securing sponsors, students raise money for the fight against heart disease and stroke, while learning about the lifelong benefits of physical activity and the importance of living a heart-healthylifestyle.

Kemper-Green said the school has beenparticipating in the annual American Heart Association fund-raiser for many years. The school raised more than $9,000 last year when Breezyparticipated.

Kemper-Green said the fund-raiser was “super cool” since it not only raised money to help people through the American Heart Association, but a few hundred dollars came back to Sisters Elementary so they could purchase sports equipment.

Breezy Tewalt is already a fundraising force to be reckoned with.

“She always does all the cookie sales etcetera,” said her mom Thia.

“It’s fun to raise money for things like this,” said Breezy of the annual Jump Rope for Heart school fund-raiser.