Alumni profile: Weir promotes heart health to youth

A youth market director for the American Heart Association, Weir works with schools in Calumet, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, northern Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington and Winnebago counties, providing educational resources for health and physical fitness lesson plans. Materials tackle such topics as CPR, heart and stroke research and education, and steps one can take to live healthier.

“The epidemic of childhood obesity is increasing, and if the trend continues, this generation is on track to be the first generation in the United States’ history that will not live as long as their parents,” said Weir, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2003 with bachelor’s degree in journalism with emphases in advertising and public relations.

Professionally, Weir focuses much of her energy on Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart, programs that motivate elementary and middle school students to be active while raising money to support research and education.

“Teachers tell me that kids get into bad habits because they don’t play outside the way kids did 10 or 15 years ago,” said Weir, a New Holstein, Wis., resident. “Students also are involved with a lot of extracurricular activities, so families might not be able to sit down and eat a healthy meal.

“By getting the word out about eating healthy, exercising regularly and not smoking, children will develop good habits that they will take with them into adulthood,” she said.