SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife school is being praised after students raised the most money of any school in Canada for the Heart and Stroke Foundation during a Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser last May.

The foundation's Norma McLean and Margaret Bell, came all the way from Grande Prairie, Alta. to give thanks to N.J. Macpherson School, which raised $22,223, at an assembly at the school on Wednesday.

"You guys are my heart heroes," said McLean.

The fundraiser is an initiative started by the Heart and Stroke Foundation to raise money for health education as well as for heart disease and stroke research.

"It's pretty amazing and very surprised," said Sharon Oldford, principal at the school. "The pledges just kept coming in."

Ryan Nichols, who was the school's physical education teacher last school year, helped organize the event in which students raised money by skipping rope for a certain amount of time.

"It think it's great," said Nichols who is now teaching physical education at Mildred Hall School.

"Thanks goes to the students for collecting the money and thanks to the community for donating the large chunk of money for a pretty small school."

The previous year the school raised about $15,000 for the foundation, the most out of any other school in the Northwest Territories and Alberta.

"We didn't have a goal in mind," said Nichols. "When we did add it up I was amazed and proud."

Students from Grades 1 to 5 participated in the fundraiser.

"I really don't like heart diseases and I wanted to see a cure," said Chase Browman, a Grade 5 student at the school.

The foundation also had some extra motivation for the students to raise money.

"They had wicked prizes," said Lisa Weaver, Grade 5.

Every so often when the students were taking pledges Nichols would show what prizes they would get for the amount of money they raised. Aside from the prizes the students were happy to contribute to a good cause.

"Anything can help," said Don Boake, Grade 5. "I'm glad to know people are smiling because of the money we raised."

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