To the editor:

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon would like to thank our schools across the Okanagan and Kootenays for helping to make our Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart programs such a great success in our 2008/2009 school year.

About 38,000 students across our region participated in Jump for Hoops and helped to raise almost $275,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation—thanks to you all.

For more than 25 years, our school programs have taught millions of children the value of getting active, staying healthy and giving back to their communities.

Scooping 10 out of 12 provincial awards for Outstanding Achievement and/or our Big Heart awards, our region led the way to Get Heart’s Pumping in 2008/2009.

Our highlights include:

Jump Rope for Heart Outstanding Achievement Awards:

Gold—Glenmore Elementary in Kelowna for raising $14,741.20

Silver—BX Elementary, Vernon $13,948.11

Bronze—Hume Elementary, Nelson $12,364.32

Jump Rope for Heart Big Heart Awards:

Bronze award to the community of Field Elementary in Field, B.C. for raising $140.72 per capita.

Hoops for Heart Outstanding Achievement Awards:

Gold—McKim Middle School, Kimberley for raising $9,760.71

Silver—KVR Middle School, Penticton $7,378.56

Bronze—Lady Grey Elementary, Golden $7,195.30

Hoops for Heart Big Heart Awards:

Gold—Sparwood Secondary for raising $151.31 per capita

Silver—McKim Middle School, Kimberley $143.54 per capita

Bronze—Ecole Entre Lacs, Penticton $143.25 per capita.

In addition, Lady Grey Elementary School in Golden won our prestigious Student Leadership Award and, in recognition of their efforts in the fight against heart disease and stroke, will receive a truly inspiring visit from our Canadian Olympic Esteem Team. Congratulations Golden.

Your support has enabled us to continue the vital research that leads to breakthrough medical advances, social change and health education.

Your generosity and support of these great causes are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to your program registrations for 2009/2010.

Suzanne Pugh,

Okanagan/Kootenay area manager

Heart and Stroke

Foundation of BC and Yukon