Shelton Jumps High to Benefit SADS
Shelton School sponsored its 19th Annual Brian Price Jump-a-thon February 14th. Students in grades Early Childhood through five jumped rope to raise awareness and money for the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Foundation. The event is named in memory of Brian Price, who died in 1998 of the syndrome. He was the grandson of Shelton employee Betty Glasheen, who, along with her daughter Kathy Price Martin, founded the Shelton event. The Jump-a-thon is held annually around Valentine’s Day, when the public is focused on the healthy heart.
The Middle School Student Council supported the cause by selling Valentine’s candy and donating proceeds to the SADS Foundation. Says Middle School Student Council sponsor Ann Wright, “The Middle School is happy to support SADS each year by selling candy bars and lollipops to the students. The students buy the candy to give to a friend for Valentine’s Day. The candy is delivered to each advisory at the end of the day. We are excited to report that we raised $1,722 as a donation.” Other staff and students supported the cause by contributing an optional amount to wear jeans for a day.
The inherited Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) can cause fainting and sudden death. LQTS is an electrical malfunction of the heart that causes over 4,000 unexplained deaths a year among otherwise healthy youngsters. SADS is a disorder that, when diagnosed, is readily treatable through medications known generally as beta-blockers. It is important that all family members be tested for the syndrome once a family member is identified as a Long QT Syndrome patient. For more information about the warning signs of SADS, or to donate securely and directly to the SADS Foundation, please go to www.StopSADS.org.