---

NORTH ATTLEBORO - Proving once again that its students have plenty of heart, North Attleboro Middle School is poised to become the national champion in the Hoops for Hearts fundraiser for the sixth year in a row.

More than 1,000 middle school students have been diligently collecting money for the American Heart Association's Hoops for Hearts program, with a record-breaking goal of donating $105,000.

More than 33,000 schools participate in the fundraiser and North Attleboro Middle School topped them all last year by raising more than $102,000.

The fundraiser is run by the school's physical education teachers Jason Feid, John Dempsey, Richard Patch and Lillian Gregory. During the event, students participate in activities that show the importance of heart health, including basketball tournaments.

Students had a variety of reasons for participating in the fundraiser, which offered games and prizes in addition to basketball. "We participated because we thought it would be good to fight against heart disease and to help raise money for research," said Olivia Vieira, a seventh-grader who raised $116.

Sarah Cerrone, a seventh-grader who raised $65, agreed, saying the event was fun and for a good cause.

Heading into the seven-hour event, students had raised about $85,000, but every dollar spent during the afternoon would also go toward that total. Students lined up with their spending money to donate a dollar for treats like a chance to drop French and Spanish teacher Jack Lawrence in the dunk tank or for braids for their hair.

"I wanted to help people with heart problems," said Marrissa Meda, a sixth-grader who raised $85.

"People in our families have heart disease, so you know what it's like," said Lindsey Martin, a sixth-grader who raised $115.

North Attleboro Middle School students have collectively raised more than $376,000 during the past nine years. The school first began participating in the fundraiser in 1999, when 30 kids raised $640. Participation has mushroomed since the early years and now most of the school participates.

To kick off the event, New England Patriot Ty Warren made a guest appearance to congratulate the students on their success.

"You've all been doing a great job. I'd like to give you a round of applause for that," Warren said. "Anytime you help and give back to people, it's important."

Miss Massachusetts Michaela Gagne, of Fall River, spoke about her own heart issues, which sidelined her from high school athletics and meant she needed to have an internal cardiovascular defibrillator implanted just over her heart.

"At 17 years old, I was an athlete in high school and planning to play Division 1 soccer when I learned I had a life-threatening heart condition," she said. State Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, and Miss Massachusetts Teen USA Kathleen McNiff also congratulated students for their efforts.

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.