The Demopolis Middle School will be having their annual community service learning program, Hoops for Heart, on Friday, March 21.

The American Heart Association Hoops for Heart will be at the DMS gym at 9 a.m.

The event teaches students the importance of developing heart-healthy habits and that being physically active can be fun.

“This event gives children the chance to raise funds to support cardiovascular research and education to help save lives in their community and across the country,” DMS basketball coach Jesse Bell said. “Partnering up with the American Heart Association is very important.”

The goal for this year’s event is to raise $10,000 to contribute to research related to children’s heart disease.

“We would like to thank all our students who are participating in this great event,” Bell said.

“We would also like to thank everyone in our community for all their support and efforts in making this event a success.”

Heart disease is the nation’s number one killer, with stroke being the fourth-leading cause.

Almost one-third of children in the United States between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese.

Children who are obese are more than twice likely to die before the age of 55, according to the American Heart Association.

Sixty-one percent of children ages 9-13 aren’t active outside of school activities.

Bell said this program helps students become more aware of these numbers and helps them with ideas to become more heart-healthy in their everyday lives.