La Grange Jumpathon Held

Fayette County Helpers held their annual Jump Rope Jumpathon for second graders in La Grange last week. The group visited La Grange Elementary School on Tuesday, March 7, and then Sacred Heart Catholic School on Wednesday, March 8.

Jeff Kelly and Karen Forest of the Fayette County Helpers (FCH) started the Jumpathon in 2015 as a way to encourage kids to stay healthy. The event takes place each year before spring break. The second graders compete to see who can jump rope the longest. FCH awards medals to the top three finishes, and all the kids get to take home their own jump rope.

“We hope that you take them home and use them during spring break,” Forest told the children on Tuesday. “Go outside and jump. It helps your heart. It helps your coordination. And it helps your brain. It may help you learn better. Go out, be healthy and breath some fresh air.”

Jeff Kelly couldn’t attend the events last week, but his son Jeff Kelly III came to the Jumpathon at La Grange Elementary. The younger Kelly played linebacker in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted sixth round of the 1999 NFL draft out of Kansas State. He now lives in La Grange.

“My dad has been doing this a long time,” Kelly said. “It’s a part of our family. He always told me, everywhere I moved, to get involved in the community. Give back. Get to know the people you are around. But this is home.”

Jeff Kelly III’s friend Brodney Poole, visited the students at Sacred Heart on Thursday. Pool is also a former NFL player who now lives in the area.

The Jumpathon winners were as follows:

La Grange Elementary - Boys Division First Place – Julius Williams Second Place – Ace Jasek Third Place – Brayden Noak

La Grange Elementary - Girls Division First Place – Eleanor Schmidt

Second Place – Emma Sanches Third Place – Hailey Faldyn

Sacred Heart

First Place – Ava Wied Second Place – Parker Hatfield Third Place – Liam Cowen