This month, we are honored to share, Christine Rypma, Physical Education Instructor at Cedar Trails Elementary School was selected at the Kids Heart Challenge Volunteer of the month! Chris is a powerhouse advocate for heart health, and her passion has led her school to an incredible milestone this year.

A Record-Breaking Year
Under Chris’s leadership, the Cedar Trails community showed up in a massive way. This year, the school raised a staggering $26,071.27, officially surpassing their ambitious goal of $25,000! These funds go directly toward lifesaving research and education—the very same research that once helped Chris’s own family.

A Personal Mission
For Chris, the Kids Heart Challenge isn’t just a school event; it’s personal. She has been involved with the program for four years, motivated by her eldest daughter’s journey.

"I love supporting the program because it is near and dear to my heart," Chris shares. Her daughter was born with an atrioventricular (AV) canal defect—a hole in her heart the size of a quarter. Thanks to research funded by the American Heart Association, she underwent successful surgery at just six months old. Today, that baby girl is a 29-year-old thriving medical professional who chose her career so she could help others, just as the surgeons once helped her.

Making Connections
Chris’s favorite part of the program is the "magical" moments of connection with her students. She recalls a time when, after sharing her daughter's story, a first-grader stood up to proudly share that he had a "new heart," too. "He even showed me his scar!" Chris says. "The students were so supportive. I was amazed!"

Words of Wisdom
When asked what keeps her going (besides the "threat" of students turning her into a human Ice Cream Sundae for hitting their goals!), Chris has one simple tip for other educators: "Always be compassionate and excited! It is a worthy cause, and excitement is contagious!"

Congratulations to Chris Rypma and the entire Cedar Trails Elementary community for your heart-hero efforts!