Midlakes Elementary Students delivered strong on their annual Kids' Heart Challenge.

Replacing the annual Jump Rope for Heart program, Midlakes Elementary participated in a fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

The school established a goal of $5,000, donated to the American Heart Foundation to directly benefit children with heart conditions, while also supporting the American Heart Association's efforts to combat heart disease and stroke.

Overall, the students efforts produced a donation of $8,620.50. The money goes toward medicine, research, and medical procedures for children who suffer from cardiovascular disease. The school is entered into a raffle to earn a $10,000 gym make over, celebrating the student's hard work.

Also, 26 families learned how to perform life-saving hands-only CPR.

"The kids have again gone above and beyond. To get that kind of support from the students, their families and the community really is awesome," said physical education instructor and Midlakes graduate Trent Jones.

Alexa Sinack, a sixth grader, was the top earner, bringing in over $600. Third-grader Kindergartener Hadlee Pickett was next, followed by more students - Andrew Mattoon, Caleb Gregory, Lucy Butler, Cole Steele, and Nova Firestein -  who each generated more than $300 in donations.

The American Heart Association is a charity close to Sinack and her family. Her grandfather and two uncles have a genetic form of Arrhythmia; a cousin found out she has the gene for the same condition. Another uncle, Patrick, passed from the genetic condition in 2023, at just 25 years of age. She was among the top earners last year. Similar to last year, Sinack again leveraged a QR Code placed on a support vehicle traveling with competitors during the Seneca 7 race around Seneca Lake to help raise funds.

"The Kids Heart Challenge is fitness focused, focusing on cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility," said Jones. "But, it also helps with tips on healthy lifestyle, eating habits and it encourages leadership and community involvement. Students were out there with their family, walking around their neighborhood and getting others involved in one way or another."

Other celebrated milestones include a total of 95 students registered, and 26 completed Mrs. Flinn's challenge. Ms. Fischer's third grade class raised more than $900. Third grade generated more than $2,100 in donations. Three homerooms raised more than $500 each. Four grade levels collectively raise over $1,200 each. Most importantly, 33 families learned hands-only CPR.