Oriole Park Elementary School View Full Caption DNAinfo/Heather Cherone

NORWOOD PARK — Oriole Park Elementary School students raised more than $16,000 for the American Heart Association's Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart fundraiser this year, school officials said.

The Norwood Park school has been participating in the program since 2007, and every year, students have raised more money than the last, officials said.

Since 2011, the school's participation in the nationwide fundraiser has been in honor of teacher Patricia Hobbs, who worked at Oriole Park for more than 20 years before being diagnosed with heart disease. Hobbs is on medical leave from the school, 5424 N. Oketo Ave.

All 660 students participate in the two-day event held at the nearby Oriole Park field house, since all of the students won't fit in the overcrowded school's gym.

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

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