Harrison County School District leads state, raises $26K for heart health

HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- The American Heart Association is celebrating the Harrison County School District after it became the top participating district in the state through the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge.

Sixteen schools across the district raised more than $26,000 to support heart health education and research while 136 families learned hands-only CPR.

Lyman Elementary School led the way, raising over $5,000 and helping 30 students learn life-saving CPR skills.

The district also received wellness grants for physical education equipment and CPR training kits.

Local Youth Heart Ambassador Jaxon Patterson shared his inspiring story after undergoing open heart surgery as an infant for a rare heart condition known as TAPVR. American Heart Association Mississippi School Engagement Director Macey Schultz said, “So, them finishing first was such an incredible thing, not only for the school district of Harrison County, but for the entire Gulf Coast in the state of Mississippi. The goal of this program is really to get the community to come together and get those families to sit down and form an emergency plan together and learn that hands-on CPR.”

Lyman Elementary P.E. Teacher Jennifer Moran said, “It’s amazing watching Jaxon because you know when some of these other kids say they can’t or whatever, I think about what he went through at four weeks old and how he’s just such an amazing little athlete at everything he does, he just succeeds and just thrives.”

Jaxon said, “It’s fun now. I don’t run out of breath so quickly, I have a longer endurance, and it helps me just run for longer. Thank you for helping me raise money for the heart association.”