KIDS GET A JUMP ON HEALTHY LIVING

Jumping Professional's Pro-fitness, Anti-drug Message Ropes In
Richey Elementary Students

NEWPORT -- Students are getting high without drugs in the Red Clay
Consolidated School District.

All the district's elementary and middle school students recently
participated in "Jump Against Drugs," a nationwide program that
encourages youths to live drug-free and physically fit lives. The
dynamic presentations featured professional rope jumper Mark
Rothstein of Atlanta. Funding was provided by the federal Safe and
Drug-Free Schools Program and BofA.

"Jumping rope is the medium to reach the kids," said Christine
Miller, coordinator of Safe and Drug-Free Schools for Red Clay. "It's
important to deliver the drug-free message early. They [younger
pupils] are the sponges."

And soak it up they did at Richey Elementary School. Almost blown
away by Rothstein's electrifying rope jumping, the students quickly
got into the act. They clapped to the beat of the blaring rock music,
encouraging Rothstein to perform trickier and faster jumping.

Between jumps, Rothstein delivered his message: live healthy and
substance-free lives. Along with that came development of good
character and decision-making skills to keep them safe. His ultimate
goal was for the youths to achieve academically and be successful in
both school and life.

"He delivers a powerful message that hopefully will last a lifetime,"
said Miller.

Rothstein will return to Delaware in November and April to appear at
other Red Clay schools, Miller said.

Rothstein talked about honesty, manners, teamwork, support and kindness.

He also invited a team of 14 on stage to count his jumps. Sweat
dripping from his forehead, Rothstein completed 34 consecutive jumps.

Next he selected two 7-year-olds -- Maleah Marchegiano and Ian Hill
- -- to join him. Maleah, a second-grader had never before jumped rope.
Rothstein showed her how to jet spin -- jump while spinning the rope
in one hand.

"Maleah, that was absolutely wonderful. Pretty soon you'll be an
excellent jumper." Her reward was a new jump rope.

It was clear that Ian, also a second-grader, had jumped rope before.
Rothstein challenged him to more difficult maneuvers, then gave him a
small rope that required him to "squat low and jump high." Ian was
successful and even did it a second time with his eyes closed.

"Ian, you get better with every jump," Rothstein said.

Ian's prize was a jump rope or a picture postcard and tape of
Rothstein. Ian chose the jump rope. Before Rothstein handed him the
rope, however, he repeated the choice of prizes. Again Ian selected
the rope. Rothstein said Ian demonstrated good resistance skills by
not letting himself be pressured when making a choice -- one of
Rothstein's earlier messages.

Miller has gotten good feedback from families about the
drug-awareness programs. One grandmother said, "We've had drugs in
our family, and we don't want to have to deal with them again."

Richey Principal Dorothy Johnson was pleased.

"The kids just loved it. We send a message every day. We are a
family, and this program just reinforced that."

Family health fairs are planned at many of the Red Clay schools Oct.
23-28. Children and adults will be asked to sign large banners
pledging to be drug-free. The health fairs are part of National Red
Ribbon Week, a week devoted to keeping drugs out of the nation's
schools. Rothstein travels the country and abroad to present his
motivational school programs.

Since 1985, he has performed more than 8,500 school shows to 5
million students. He also works with school basketball and wrestling
teams and appears before corporate groups. He holds two world records
for marathon rope jumping -- the most recent for 36 hours of continuous jumping.