As a child, Canadian Elizabeth Way was a blur with a jump rope, skipping more than 200 times in a minute to break a speed record at the age of 11.

Today, at the age of 31, she has made it her life's mission to use her jump rope as a lifeline for the world's children who are in danger of becoming the first generation to have shorter lifespans than their parents, due to inactivity and poor eating habits.

She was on the Island this week to introduce residents to the Jump2bFit Rope Skipping Fitness and Activity Programme for the Bermuda Heart Foundation.

The programme teaches "non-skippers" the skills to enjoy jumping rope, and also more advanced jumping rope skills needed for competition.

The idea of Jump2bFit is to improve fitness, and possibly create a few new champion jump-rope artistes.

"I started jumping rope when I was five years old," said Mrs. Way. "My mother, Susan Kalbfleisch, was a physical education (PE) teacher so physical activity was always a big part of my life.

"We always had all the fun PE equipment at our house."

Mrs. Way never thought as a kid 'I want to jump rope as a career'.

"It just worked out that way," she said.

"Once I started varsity athletics in high school, I was more interested in jumping rope in terms of keeping me fit to do other sports, rather than on a competition level."

Today she often jumps rope with her 61-year-old mother, and her four-year-old daughter Eleanor. "Kids don't play anymore, they just stand around on the playground," she said. "Jumping rope is an activity that goes well on the playground."

Mrs. Way was part of the development team for Jump2bFit in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia in 2002. She is also the author of 'S3 = Skip, Strength, Stretch' released earlier this year.

"Jumping rope is a heart-healthy activity which is why it is being promoted by the Bermuda Heart Foundation and around the world as a fitness activity for kids and adults," said Mrs. Way who is from Hamilton, Ontario.

"Jumping rope can help to maintain an efficient cardio vascular system, and build and maintain bone density. It is considered a medium impact activity that has the same metabolic calorie burning value as running. Many people are surprised to learn that it is also medium impact, rather than high impact, on your knees."

She also said that jumping rope could be a great equaliser, because it is inexpensive – all you need is a jump rope and some sneakers, and it can be done indoors or outdoors, regardless of the weather.

"Studies have shown that when taught properly, it can provide a boost to a child's self-esteem," said Mrs. Way. "Children can gain confidence and improve their skills rapidly."

She said she has been teaching fitness for over 15 years, and seen it help to turn sedentary overweight kids into more active college students.

"It can be a gateway activity," she said. "It gets them moving and they can do it by themselves or with their friends. They can become more co-ordinated and do other activities. Skipping can be used to work on speed and endurance."

Simone Barton, executive director of the Bermuda Heart Foundation said there is now worldwide interest in jumping rope competitively – from China to Australia to Scotland and Trinidad and Jamaica.

"Where is Bermuda?" questioned Ms Barton.

"It is such a simple, no-brainer type of thing we can introduce into the schools which will have a huge benefit."

Ms Barton said in terms of health, Bermuda has to start with its young people.

"Obesity with the youth of Bermuda is growing epidemically," said Ms Barton. "If we don't get a handle on it we are only making things worse later."

She said we have to be proactive in terms of being heart healthy. "It doesn't necessarily mean winning a marathon," she said. "Skipping is an activity, not just for the youth but for the whole family. It is a simple activity that the family can bond around."

Ms Barton's dream is to eventually see Bermudian kids competing in the International Rope Skipping Federation (IRSF) World Jump Rope Championships held biannually. The 2010 championships will be held in England. "Maybe the first couple of years they could go just to participate," said Ms Barton.

She said that Mrs. Way was world-renowned for her teaching ability, and had helped to bring competitive rope jumping to Japan a few years ago.

"She started it ten years ago with their cardiac department," said Ms Barton. "This programme has grown. Now those students are participating in the world championships. The Japanese are going to try next year to try to break the world record in jumping. To her credit she is the one that started that. The jump rope phenomenon is huge through the world and now it is landing on Bermuda's shores."

Mrs. Way has two daughters, Eleanor, four, and Veronica, 18 months. "In their mind they are skipping champions," said Mrs. Way with a laugh. "They are little, but it is important to get them moving and do it with them."

She said research has found that it is primarily the mother's activity level that influences children to be active or sedentary. "When my daughters were babies I would jump rope for 10 minute stretches while they slept," she said.

She owns Atec Marketing Limited which sells jump ropes and other supplies such as training manuals and double dutch kits. "My father, Andrew, started the company," said Mrs. Way. "Through my mother's work as a physical education teacher, she found that the ropes were always breaking. My father was an engineer and thought he would make a better skipping rope."

She said the jump ropes her company sells have shatter proof handles, and last a long time. "A lot of ropes you find in toy stores or sports stores are expensive but don't last a long time," she said. "But ours are not expensive. We couldn't get any quality resources for the jump ropes so we started manufacturing them."

While in Bermuda, Mrs. Way spent a day working with teachers during teacher training at CedarBridge Academy. She also spoke at an open house at the Bermuda College so that the general public could have fun and learn some jump rope skills.

Private schools interested in the Jump2bFit programme can contact the Bermuda Heart Foundation at info@bermudaheartfoundation.bm or go on their website at http://www.mybermudaheart.bm/ or telephone 239-2052.

The Bermuda Heart Foundation is also interested in working with other organisations such as churches and youth groups. "We have already been approached by one church that would like to set up jump stations," said Ms Barton. "One person we were talking to was saying that back in the day you would walk down the street and see someone jumping rope, but you just don't see it anymore. We are trying to get that going again."

Even small children can benefit

Even a child as young as two can benefit from jumping rope with supervision.

“Keep in mind that you wouldn’t expect a two-year-old’s co-ordination to be very good,” said Mrs. Way.

“You could lay the rope on the floor and have them jump back and forth over it,” she said.

“They could clap to get the rhythm, or you could skip with them.

“At this stage you just want to get them interested and active.”