Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357
Fax: 804-443-6781
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SMS Students Raise More than $600 for Heart Health
Tappahannock, VA (March 12, 2001) - Students at St. Margaret's School have raised more than $600 to fight heart disease and stroke, which together are the two deadliest diseases in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.
Brittany Alexander, a sophomore boarding student at St. Margaret's School, raised more than $400 through the Hoops for Heart program to fight heart disease and stroke.
"Service to the community is an essential part of the 'education for life' we provide at St. Margaret's," said Athletic Director Sue Saunders. "Students participated in this event because they wanted to, and they really came through."
Saunders and Director of Studies ViAnn Farmer coordinated the girls' fundraising efforts through the school's Basic Needs service organization and the American Heart Association's Hoops for Heart program.
Students collected money from family, friends, teachers and school staff to qualify for participation in a basketball competition that included three-on-three games and a "Hot Shot Blitz" scoring contest.
Sophomore Brittany Alexander of Temple Hills, MD, was the leading fundraiser, bringing in more than $400. Sophomore Jennifer Stuart of Stuart's Draft, the Scotties' most valuable JV basketball player, won the Hot Shot Blitz with 26 points. A team consisting of varsity basketball standouts Kristina Bethea and Fola Ogundiran, joined by varsity soccer starter Tonia Arsala, won the three-on-three by defeating both faculty and student opponents.
Hoops for Heart is designed to promote physical fitness and heart health through the fun activity of playing basketball. In addition to the AHA, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance sponsors the program.
Funds raised through Hoops for Heart will benefit research and educational programs to reduce the burden of heart disease and stroke. According the Virginia Department of Health, the two conditions accounted for more than a third of all deaths in Essex, Lancaster, Middlesex and Richmond counties in 1998, the most recent year for which data are available.
