Clear Creek students rise to the challenge

(Above) Clear Creek Physical Education Instructor Angela O’Tool

New school, state record set in annual Kids Heart Challenge

by Marianne Gasaway

Clear Lake elementary students love a challenge.  This year the American Heart Association, and all those they serve, was the beneficiary.

Two-hundred thirty-nine students in grades kindergarten through five set a new school and state record by raising more than $35,000 in the AHA’s Kids Heart Challenge held last month.

“We have been looking back into our records and we can’t find any group which has raised more since records started to be kept in 2012,” explained Chrissy Meyer, communications director for the AHA.  “Jump Rope for Heart (which the event was originally named) actually began more than 40 years ago, but we are sure that amount was not topped before 2012.”

Clear Creek’s achievement came as a bit of a surprise to Clear Creek Physical Education Instructor Angela O’Tool, who has been with the school district since 1994.  She has built on the success of former teachers, Dave Suntken and Gary Weber, who inspired students to not only have fun and get active jumping rope, but support the AHA with their efforts.

As of March 11, Clear Creek students have raised $35,066.37 in the 2022 Kids Heart Challenge.  That number could continue to grow, as totals will not be finalized for a few more weeks.

“I can’t put my finger on why the event was so successful this year, but the

[wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember][wlm_ismember]

kids really seem to enjoy doing it and got a lot of support from their families and the community,” said O’Tool.  “We set our goal at $15,000, but we blew by that early on and just kept building.”

Both of Clear Creek’s top fundraisers, second grader Jonah Snow and third grader Calvin Lamont, said they have grandparents and great-grandparents with heart issues and were jumping with them in mind.  Each raised more than $2,000 in the Kids Heart Challenge.

“I knocked on a lot of doors in my grandma and grandpa’s neighborhood and my neighborhood,” explained Calvin.  “I’m going to try to get even more next year.  I’m going to raise $5,000.”

Calvin’s mother, Emily, estimated 75 percent of the money he raised came as the result of his knocking on doors.  “We met a lot of people and shared stories.  The support was amazing.” 

Calvin’s brother, Dillon, a fourth grader, was also among the school’s top fundraisers.  He raised about $1,500 this year.

Jonah used a slightly different approach to raise funds.  He recorded a message so he could send a video appeal to potential donors.

“I just talked about it (Kids Heart Challenge) and people liked it,” said Jonah.  “I’ll do it again next year.”

Students also found inspiration for the  event by learning the stories of local persons who are facing heart health issues.  “Heart Heroes” included Clear Creek teacher Melanie Marrell, student Mikha Coleman and brothers, Nolan and Grant Bauman, who shared their family’s story.

O’Tool said the jump rope fundraiser has evolved to make it easier than ever for the public to support the AHA.  Donations can be made on-line and often students send email blasts to let friends know they are participating in the challenge and encourage giving to the campaign.

Clear Creek was also fortunate to have great support from parents and volunteers who kept kids on track.

“We were so fortunate to have the help of Kristen Seehusen and a great team of volunteers.  They were a tremendous help to me and kept things organized and fun for the kids,” said O’Tool.  

Clear Creek was the top fundraising school in the state of Iowa by more than $10,000.

Now that Clear Creek is number one in the state for the Kids Heart Challenge, O’Tool said the push is on to finish as one of the top 10 schools in the nation who participated in the Kids Heart Challenge.  Giving is still encouraged and is very easy.  Just go to  http://www2.heart.org/goto/clearcreek to donate.

[/wlm_ismember]