Why we fundraise
When you do good, you feel good. By fundraising for Jump Rope for Heart, you’re saving lives. The donations you collect fund critical research that’s preventing heart disease and stroke and supporting survivors and their families.
Jump Rope for Heart celebrates its 40th birthday this year, thanks to the support of millions of parents, teachers, students and donors. Supporters like you have been taking a leap of faith with us for four decades to help save lives and create a healthier future for us all.
Here are just some of the ways you’re making a difference. In 2020:
- We invested $22.4 million in research that supported 891 top medical researchers across Canada.
- Across the country, we helped pass six regulations and seven pieces of legislation that protect youth from the harms of vaping.
- We issued 329,191 certifications through our resuscitation courses to equip health professionals, instructors, and the public with life-saving skills.
- We partnered with 1,347 educators across the country to reach 60,000 children with our HeartSmart Kids resource that encourages healthy habits. 563 were educators of Indigenous students who reached over 19,500 children and their families.
Kids Helping Kids
Karter
Karter underwent two open-heart surgeries and had two pacemaker implants to help his heart function all before his first birthday. Karter still experiences issues with his heart and undergoes regular health check-ups. With the help of his cardiologist, he can now join his friends at school and be part of fun activities like swimming and gymnastics.
Karter’s mom says he’s a “lil rockstar” who “takes life by the horns.” He’s excited about joining Jump Rope for Heart with his classmates, so he can help others do the same.
Owen
By the time he was 2 years old, Owen Veloso already had 4 heart surgeries so that his heart could pump blood and oxygen throughout his body. But they weren’t enough to completely save his life.
Owen would need another serious procedure to do that. Thanks to research, doctors were able to perform Owen’s final surgery when he turned 6 - and he got to play in the snow for the very first time!
William
William Kunz was born with a hole in his heart. When he was just 3 years old, he had open-heart surgery to fix it. And less than a week later, doctors said he was well enough to go home.
Thanks to research, more families can bring home children that grow into active, healthy kids. William's mom was so grateful that she began working for the Heart & Stroke Foundation to help even more of them.
Natasha
“Sometimes I feel that my dad died so that they could start testing me,” says Natasha Matthews. Since doctors found that Natasha has the same heart condition that her father had, they’re doing everything they can to keep her safe.
While Natasha can’t be as active as she wants to be, she does have fun participating in Jump Rope for Heart. That’s important because the funds raised could help researchers fix Natasha’s condition and other heart problems too.
Océane
Océane Deschênes was born with a congenital heart defect. She had her first surgery when she was only 3 days old. Two more operations followed before her 6th birthday. Oceane knows her heart makes her different.
But she is bright and cheerful and loves life! Knowing she is lucky to be alive makes her a very proud Jump participant.
Zoe
By Grade 2 Zoe had already undergone three open-heart surgeries. Every day she wears a device that monitors her heart even while she’s at school. If she appears tired, her teacher uses the device to transmit the electrical activity of Zoe’s heart to her big sister, who’s a nurse. She can tell Zoe’s teacher what needs to be done to help.
Despite all this, Zoe is a “joyful ball of energy.” She recently participated in Jump Rope for Heart and her enthusiasm helped her raise more than $1,000 to help others with conditions like hers.
Dawson
Dawson Nemeth loves to have fun skipping rope. To watch her in action, you’d never know she was born with a heart defect, and had open-heart surgery when she was just 4 months old. Today, her doctors don’t need to monitor her condition as much as they used to.
That means Dawson can be just as active as her friends, and participate in Jump Rope for Heart to raise funds for research that helps kids just like her.
Jump Gives Back
Earn rewards for your school! Schools get 10% of net fundraising dollars back, or earn points redeemable for sports equipment, learning materials like robotics kits, and more!
The Give-back Program is our way of saying thank you to schools for putting students’ heart and brain health first.
FAST signs of stroke help students save lives!
Heroes come in all sizes.
FAST is lifesaving information that empowers kids to spot the signs of stroke so they know what to do.
Kids like these two:
Emily's story
Emily, 9, learned the FAST signs of stroke at a Jump event at her school in Prince George, B.C. A week later, she used them to save her grandmother’s life!
When Emily realized her grandmother was having a stroke at home, she knew to act FAST and get help.
Read Emily’s story here.
Max's story
A few days after Max, 8, learned the FAST signs of stroke at a Jump kick-off assembly, his dad was unable to lift a cup with his left hand and Max realized his dad was having a stroke.
Knowing how to act FAST and get help saved his dad’s life.
Watch Max's story here.