WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Rose Dorsey has volunteered her spare time for more than two decades to ensure kids are heart healthy, making her this week’s Everyday Hero.
What You Need To Know
- Coach Rose Dorsey enjoys teaching kids the value of heart healthy habits
- At SunRidge Elementary, students wake up early to participate in Westly’s Mile, an initiative encouraging them to be physically active led by Dorsey
- The American Heart Association Orlando area helps Coach Rose with projects making sure children are in tune with heart health
Coach Dorsey volunteers with SunRidge Elementary School’s run club in Winter Garden.
“I’m passionate about total wellness and any opportunity to bring to the kids at an early age to help them understand the importance of physical fitness,” Dorsey said.
She is at the school several days a week before school starts to encourage kids to go the extra mile for Westly’s Mile run club.
She said it is all about setting the kids up to make good, healthy choices.
Students learn about being heart healthy through two school programs, the kids heart challenge and Westly’s Mile.
Fourth grader Sydney Horton has been hooked on running since she got her start.
“I heard about this from my grandma because she volunteers at my school. She asked me if I wanted to join and I was like, yeah. And I was like, 'I want to get more exercise. I want to be outside more,'” Horton said.
Dorsey has also volunteered with the American Heart Association for the past 25 years.
Orlando area executive director Heather Maloney said volunteers like Dorsey help keep their message going strong.
“The American Heart Association — we like to call our volunteers the lifeblood of our organization. Really, we have the opportunity to make a greater impact through those volunteers like Coach Rose,” Maloney said.
If you know of an “Everyday Hero,” you can nominate them here.
