East Haddam Gymnast Helps Team Raise $11,141 for Cancer Charity

Local gymnast Imogen Grzemski, 11, a student at Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School in East Haddam was a member of a group of 19 Level 7 and 8 gymnasts from Gymnastics Express in Glastonbury and Newington who competed at the Pink Invitational gymnastics meet in Philadelphia. 

At the meet the girls (whose fundraising team was known as GET Pink!) were acknowledged as winners of the Above and Beyond challenge having raised a record breaking $11,141.50 for the Unite for HER charity, almost $3,000 ahead of second placed team. The girls met 2008 Olympic All-around gold medalist, Nastia Luikin and were presented with a pink block mat for their gym signed by Nastia.

Unite for HER was founded by Pennsylvania gymnastics coach Sue Weldon five years ago with the aim to empower breast cancer patients and educate young women on early breast cancer identification and the importance of healthy living. The Pink Invitational meet is the main fundraiser for the charity. With over 2600 gymnasts representing 87 teams from 13 States, the Pink Invitational has grown in a short period of time to become one of the biggest gymnastics meets in the USA. 

“It was so exciting to be part of the Above and Beyond challenge," said Imogen. “We only had four months and all worked so hard to raise the money. The Pink meet was amazing and learned a lot about breast cancer as well. There were so many girls competing and we all wore the same leotard so we were one big united team. It was great to see the Liberty Bell and have fun with my team mates in Philadelphia”.