BURLINGTON — An annual tradition promoting healthy living took place Friday at Burlington Elementary.

Jump Rope for Heart ran all day in the school’s gymnasium, kicking off with the school’s fifth grade class.

Each grade level took place in the marathon, showing off their jump rope skills, by jumping individually and in pairs. Some even dribbled basketballs while jumping rope, while others demonstrated their coordination by jumping a small, individual rope while also jumping within a larger rope turned by gym teacher Jim Robinson and a parent volunteer.

Robinson, who organized the event with help from the school’s music teacher, Brenda Martin, and Lydia Pruett of the American Heart Association, said the focus of the event was to teach about healthy lifestyles.

“It’s a jumpathon and it promotes healthy living,” he said. “We take the time to teach them about different things, like eating healthy and eating their fruits and vegetables.”

The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Heart Association, with students each receiving a donation envelope to take home for collecting funds.

This year’s event raised more than $11,000, with $1,100 coming from a single student, fifth grader Dallas Turley, who was the most successful fundraiser for the school.

“I went to my family and friends, and then my family’s friends and their friends’ families,” Turley said.

Robinson said many students take part in the event in honor of someone they may know who has a heart condition, or in memory of someone who died of a heart attack or heart disease.

The event has taken place at the school since 1993.