University of Pittsburgh Athletics
PITT GYMNASTICS SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER AWARNESS WITH ANNUAL WALK
10/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Oct. 4, 2006
LATROBE, Pa. - The Pitt gymnastics team participated in the Fifth Annual Westmoreland County Breast Cancer Awareness Walk held on Saturday, Sept. 30. Participating in this year's walk were 21 Pitt gymnastics student-athletes, two former Pitt gymnasts, current student assistants and one member of the women's swimming and diving team. The walk was held at the Aestique Medical Center in Latrobe, and Pitt gymnasts walked in celebration of teammate Samantha DeBone's aunt, Karen Morgan.
Each year, the gymnastics team partakes in two community service projects, one per semester. For the past two years, their fall community service project has been attending the 5K run/walk for breast cancer awareness. The walk begins at the Aestique Medical Center and continues to Twin Lakes and around both the upper and lower lake. The walkers/runners may choose to participate in the walk in celebration of a person who has been diagnosed and overcome breast cancer, or in memory of a loved one who they have lost to breast cancer.
"Both years that we have attended the walk, we have walked in celebration of my aunt, Karen Morgan," said DeBone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield). "The idea to participate in the walk initially came from my aunt who was organizing a group of family members and friends to walk, which gave me the idea to ask the team if they would like to also walk for breast cancer awareness. The response I got from the girls was phenomenal. Everyone was always so excited and encouraging the morning of the walk, despite how early we have to wake up and how far we have to drive to arrive on time. Their participation meant so much to my aunt and family, and it has become a small tradition to contribute to the Breast Cancer Awareness walk."
The Pitt gymnastics team has assembled one of its strongest lineups to date with former junior national team members and several All-EAGL selections returning. The team opens its 2007 season on Friday, Jan. 12, with a Blue-Gold Intersquad at the Fitzgerald Field House.
