Chloe Wolfe / Staff Writer

Student Council is hosting Hoops 4 Heart on March 22 during 2-11 period. 

     Student Council member and senior, Tawny Leonardo, describes this event as “a charity event in which students form basketball teams of four to five people and play in a tournament to raise money for the American Heart Association.”

     The American Heart Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1924 by six cardiologists.

The organization’s statement is “To be a relentless force of longer, healthier lives.” Since 1949, the AHA invested $5 billion in research funding: more than any other organization except the federal government.

     Since 1949, the AHA has made breakthroughs in cardiovascular and stroke discovery and application.

The AHA has funded 15 Nobel Peace Prize winners.

According to the AHA, based on 2021 data, there are 2,552 deaths from cardiovascular disease each day, and on average, someone dies of cardiovascular disease in the US every 34 seconds. 

     Heart disease kills approximately 375,476 people annually.

     Senior Student Council President Corinne Casenhiser explained why she will be participating, “It’s something to do other than school during the day.” She adds, “It’s fun. It’s one of my favorite events to host.”

      One of the Student Council advisors, Alex McMahan, encourages students to sign up. 

     “Number one, all of the money is going to the AHA, so it’s a really good cause. Secondly, it’s nice especially before Spring Break to do something fun and I think we all need that break from doing school work and getting our bodies. I think it’s a really good way to reduce stress,” McMahan expressed.

     Members of Student Council were responsible for coordinating this event. Casenheiser described this process: “It was really easy because we’ve been doing it for a really long time, so everything is in place.”

     By participating in this event, the student council will “raise hundreds of dollars to support the American Heart Association and people who struggle with heart diseases and conditions,” Leonardo said.

     By participating in this event, students can not only have fun with their friends during the school day, but they can also help raise awareness to the seriousness of heart diseases and conditions.