BURLEY, Idaho (KMVT-TV) - A local intermediate school is raising money for the American Heart Association.

Students at White Pine Intermediate School in Burley are hitting the court to raise money for the American Heart Association.

"It's a fundraising event to raise money for cardiovascular disease, heart problems and stroke and things like that. When people sponsor them they get to come in here and participate, stay active and play basketball, shoot hoops for a full class period," said Coach Josh Shell, Physical Education Teacher at White Pine Intermediate School.

Last year "Hoops for Hearts" raised over $5,000. This year the school's hoping to raise around $6,000, but if they do there could be consequences for Coach Shell.

"They get a certain amount of duct tape for how ever much money they raise. I think it's like a foot of duct tape for every $15 they raise, by our calculations that should be plenty of duct tape to suspend me on the wall," said Shell.

For Shell, it's an event he's passionate about.

"My dad, he was born with a mitral valve prolapse, which is kind of like a hole in your mitral valve. The mitral valve in your heart," said Shell.

But, as he explains he's not the only one.

"When you go through the classroom and ask kids if they know anyone who's had a heart attack, or heart surgery, or stroke, or heart disease of some sort about three quarters of them raise their hands," said Shell.

A student at White Pine knows all too well about the importance of the AMA.

"One student was born with holes in his heart and you know without the American Heart Association they wouldn't have been able to know how to fix that problem," said Shell.

Money from the heart, for the heart.

Students will continue to raise money through the end of the month.

The “Hoops for Heart” event takes place on February 23rd.

For more information on how you can help call the White Pine Intermediate School.