Two Mars Area School District elementary schools collected about $22,824 to benefit the American Heart Association as part of a Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser, held Feb. 1 to 26.

Students at Mars Area Centennial School raised about $5,792 and Mars Area Primary Center students brought in around $17,032. Both schools exceeded their initial fundraising goals.

In addition to collecting donations throughout the fundraiser, students learned about heart health and joined in various activities like jump rope and cardio drumming.

In the last few weeks of the fundraiser, parents were invited to join in physical education classes via Zoom to experience firsthand what the students have learned.