Waukesha Teachers Lead Hoops For Heart Effort
By Barb Church
OnWEAC contributing writer
For two Waukesha School District teachers, it was all about raising awareness, raising funds and having fun. That is why Secondary Learning Disabilities (SLD) teacher Diane Fahsel and Physical Education teacher Todd Pyszora coordinated the Hoops For Heart Day at Horning Middle School.
It was the sixth time since 1999 Fahsel and Pyszora aligned themselves with the American Heart Association (AHA) and this spring encouraged the students and staff to raise nearly $6,000. In 2002, the duo’s efforts raised more than $10,000, setting an American Heart Association’s school funding-raising record.
“The best time to make a difference with heart disease is before it starts,” Fahsel explained as one of the many reasons she and Pyszora are committed to creating the opportunity to increase students’ awareness. “This disease can be a silent killer and unfortunately it can start during the teen years,” continued Fahsel. “Our Hoops For Heart Day educates the students in a fun way and calls attention to things the students can do now to change how this disease may impact them in the future.”
What makes the activity so unique is that for every student and staff member the day blends the district’s curriculum and state content-area standards, members of the community along with important heart information and fun.
Among the day’s activities were sessions on nutrition, stress management, aerobics, karate and basketball handling, blood pressure screening, stroke and heart disease risk factors, ambulance, paramedic tours and emergency preparedness and a hot shot blitz contest. The day was capped off with a basketball game between faculty and students.
An important piece of the students’ education is gathered from the voluntary blood pressure screening. Crewmembers from the City and Town of Waukesha Fire Departments conducted the screenings. “This service provides students with an idea of their own risk factors,” Fahsel said. Later, individual student screening information is mailed home to help parents determine if additional follow-up care is necessary.
Heart disease and stroke are listed as the number one cause of death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “These diseases affect everyone in some way,” Pyszora said, “If the diseases don’t personally affect a person, it often impacts a family member.” Pyszora’s uncle suffered a massive heart attack in 2001 and Fahsel’s family has a risk of heart disease and has watched her father suffer a heart attack and later a stroke.
In recognition of all those affected by the disease, students and staff wrote the names of relatives and friends who have suffered from heart disease on pink paper hearts which were then hung on the walls of the school gym and cafeteria. “It is dramatic to see all the names on the hearts. There isn’t anyone who hasn’t been touched,” added Pyszora.
Students and staff were encouraged to raise funds. Horning’s choir director, Joelle Horn, contributed to the total with proceeds from a student talent show. One student, seventh grader Heather Stark, raised $1,300 in donations and even offered her award prizes to an underprivileged family -- just because it was the right thing to do.
Posted June 29, 2007