Record-Courier staff report
The Kent State gymnastics team will host Ball State in its sixth annual "Flip for the Cure" fundraiser tonight at 7 p.m. in the M.A.C. Center in Kent. Since 2008, the "Flip For the Cure" event has become a headline event on both the campus and in the community, helping unite those affected by the deadly disease.
Over the past five years, Kent State has raised over $15,000 to help organizations in their efforts to assist those suffering from breast cancer. For the third consecutive year, the money the Golden Flashes raise through "Flip For the Cure" will go to the Cleveland-based J.D. Breast Cancer Foundation, which helps low-income women in Northeast Ohio make ends meet while going through cancer treatments.
"(J.D. Breast Cancer Foundation) told us that they had a stack of cases they were prepared to call to tell women they didn't have the funds to help them," said Kent State gymnastics assistant coach Sharon Sabin, who spearheads the fundraiser every year. "With our check, they were able to provide assistance to 10 women they were going to turn away. There aren't words to describe that our efforts made an immediate impact on our community."
The gymnastics team relies on local merchants to donate items, which are assembled into raffle baskets. The squad also sells pink T-shirts to help raise funds as well as awareness. Last year almost 1,300 fans attended Kent State's "Flip For the Cure" meet against Northern Illinois, and over $5,000 was raised from T-shirt sales and raffle baskets.
Ranked No. 19 nationally, Kent State hopes its success in competitions thus far will help elevate the team's fundraising efforts for this year's event. The team's fundraising goal for 2013 is $6,000, one that organizers hope to conquer.
"I think it's easily attainable," said Angie Hull, Kent State's Director of Student-Athlete Development and "Flip For the Cure" co-director along with Sabin. "The City of Kent and campus communities continue to embrace the event, and we're able to do more as well as have a bigger reach for people that really need assistance."
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