Doppler Jumps for JumpUp

Photos courtesy Seattle School District

Seattle Storm Mascot Doppler showed off jump-roping skills at Seattle’s Dearborn Park Elementary School Sept. 30, all part of an effort to advocate increased physical activity to combat childhood obesity.

The event marked the launch of JumpUp, an initiative created by Seattle nonprofit Treeswing - in partnership with Seattle Children’s - to give young children increased opportunities for fun and fitness at school and home. Dearborn Park kindergarteners received the first of 4,000 jump ropes to be distributed to Seattle Public Schools kindergarteners citywide.

In addition to Doppler and the Mariners Moose, the event included individual and tandem jump-roping by Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson; the Northwest Double Dutch exhibition team; and the students and returning alumni of Dearborn Park’s Seattle Cirque and Acrobat Teams.

“We were delighted to be part of the JumpUp event, which reflects our commitment to helping children become physically active,” said Teresa Wippel, the Storm's director of communications and community relations. “One of our major community initiatives – supported by every team in the WNBA – is to raise awareness about how being fit improves health, self-image and overall well-being among young people.”