ALABASTER – There was a lot of excitement and energy inside Meadow View Elementary School’s gymnasium on Wednesday, Oct. 2, as students participated in a glow-in-the-dark dance party during their physical education classes.

P.E. teacher Carol Spain said the glow-in-the-dark party was a joint effort between her and the school’s two other P.E. teachers, Tracy Edwards and Michael Montgomery. The party served as a way to bring the school’s Kids Heart Challenge, which is administered through the American Heart Association, to an end.

For the past two weeks, students have been making monetary donations to the association while learning how to take care of their own hearts and learning about people with heart-related health issues. The fundraiser officially ends on Friday, Oct. 4.

AHA Youth Market Director Jamie Pope said the organization provides all of the educational materials and prizes for schools to use during the program. There are opportunities throughout the program for students to win prizes.

Spain said the glow-in-the-dark dance party was a way to celebrate the students’ hard work to raise money. As the kids danced to music, they donned glow in the dark bracelet and waved glowing streamers through the air. The LED party lights really set the tone for a good time.

Spain said this year marked the school’s 17^th year raising money for the AHA.

“It’s really a well-rounded program,” Spain said.

So far, the school has raised about $5,000.