School kids jump rope with Breakers star

Former Hauraki Primary student and Breakers Basketball player Tom Abercrombie joined the 30th Jump Rope for Heart event at the school. Photo / Greg Bowker

Several hundred kids at an Auckland primary school got their chance to jump rope with one of the country's elite basketball players this morning.

Breakers star, Tom Abercrombie, went back to his old primary school, Hauraki Primary School, to take part in the Heart Foundation's Jump Rope for Heart 30th birthday celebrations.

Some 450 pupils from new entrant level through to year six joined in the skip-a-thon showing off their skills with a range of brightly coloured ropes.

There were a few false starts and a few wildly flung ropes to dodge, but all the kids appeared proud to show off their skills to the towering Breakers star in their midst.

Unfortunately an injured hamstring meant Mr Abercrombie wasn't able to take part in the skipping himself, but he still managed to give a few words of advice and help turn some ropes.

"It's a great thing to be involved in, helping kids be fit and healthy, something that's obviously important in my line of work and lifestyle."

Jump Rope for Heart programme manager Shabana Stuart says it is all about teaching children to look after their hearts by learning a variety of skipping skills, while having plenty of fun with their friends.

"Getting children moving from an early age is so important because it sets them up for a lifetime of good heart health."

Deputy principal Christopher Pipes who helped organise the event says it had been several years since the last skip-a-thon, but despite this the kids still regularly skipped.

"Skipping is part of our regular fitness programme."

Jump Rope for Heart

Launched in 1985 to encourage physical activity in schools and raise funds to support the fight against heart disease

The programme has since taught more than 2.4 million Kiwi kids to skip

In 2014 almost 65,000 children took part in Jump Rope for Heart, raising a massive $140,000 to support the Heart Foundation.