For most people, Valentines day is a season of candy, flowers, and Hallmark cards. While these things are great, somewhere in the rose petals and sugar, the true meaning of Valentines day, love and giving back, are lost, but not to the children of Westside elementary.

For thirty-five years the American Heart Association has sponsored a program that offers elementary student a chance to make life saving donations to heart disease research.

“They see that kids can have sick hearts. They see that if money is being raised by the American Heart Association like what we do and do Jumprope for Heart these kids can get well,”  said Debby Villemez a P.E. teacher.

This is Jump-rope for Heart 13th year to be at Westside elementary and it’s still growing in popularity as well as size.

“It’s been awesome the kids really get excited about it. They look forward to it because it’s always on Valentine’s day. They get to jump in the morning and have their parties in the afternoon. They watch a video about children that are their age that are suffering from heart disease,” said Villemez

In addition to raising money Jumprope for Heart teaches kids about leading healthy life styles.

“She does a unit with all of her classes on the circulatory system and the importance of the heart,” said Doug Langston the Westside principle.

It also takes on a deeper role, Jumprope for Heart promotes community involvement and brings people together through one common goal.

“The community is involved because I get all the parents to come and help, I get teachers to come and help, I get former teachers to come and help, I’ve had different people that work in business throughout, and churches come and help and support us. I get moms and dads and grandparents so I feel like a lot of people get involved,” said Villemez.

Jumprope for Heart will continue to serve the community in years to come.

“Hopefully it will make them more aware of the world around them and their responsibility to others that may have something happen to them that are less fortunate and possibly even someday some of them might receive a direct benefit from research done with the heart association,” said Langston.