Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

Adventist school participates in statewide event

Students attempt to beat jump-rope record

The Los Baños Adventist School is hoping to make history on Feb. 1.

The school, working with approximately 80,000 students throughout the state of California, is part of a mass attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the most people jumping/skipping rope at the same time.

At 9 a.m. local students and those at different schools, led by the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and Jamba Juice, will jump rope to break the existing Guinness World Record of 59,000 people held by Australia.

"Our participants will be among 80,000 Californians to 'Jump Over the Record from Down Under,'" Katie Richmond, a teacher at the school, said in a press release.

Also held the morning of the event, Jamba Juice will be serving students heart healthy oatmeal from 8 to 8:30 a.m. At 8:30 a.m., the school will begin with opening activities and a jump rope exhibition from a local health club trainer. And then for 10 minutes, from 9 to 9:10 a.m., the jump rope attempt will take place.

The event will be coordinated via live webcast and broadcast online.

According to the press release the event is implemented in partnership with the American Heart Association (and the "Jump Rope for Heart" program), as well as the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (in partnership with the "Governor's Challenge"). CAHPERD and Jamba Juice plan to coordinate more than 2,000 sites throughout the state of California, as well as other sites and volunteers within California Congressional offices in Washington, D.C., and potentially a California Military Unit in Iraq - "all simultaneously skipping rope."

The event is somewhat momentous, not only because of the possible record breaking acheivement, but because the CAHPERD is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2010 - hence, the 80,000 jump-roper goal. Feb. 1 is the first day in American Heart month.

"More importantly, CAHPERD volunteers hope that this event and its supporting rope skipping cirriculum will remind all that it doesn't require a great deal of money, expensive equipment, or special, elite sports skills to be healthy and fit," the press released stated. "Anyone at any age can lead an active, well life with just a good pair of shoes and perhaps a jump rope."

--Samantha Salas