Gymnastics' 'Flip for the Cure' meet gets personal
As the MSU gymnastics team gears up for its first home meet since Jan. 6, the focus is on something bigger than the competition.
This weekend marks the sixth annual Jan Howard Memorial Flip for the Cure, which honors the mother of a former MSU gymnast and brings awareness to breast cancer.
Head coach Kathie Klages said the connection between breast cancer and collegiate gymnasts stems from the journey of former University of Georgia gymnast Talya Vexler, who was diagnosed with the disease in her senior year, after having completed her eligibility with the team. Vexler’s struggle inspired her team to participate in the very first “Pink Meet,” in which the gym was decorated with the color pink in support of those who have battled breast cancer.
Vexler now is cancer free, but her experience has inspired the NCAA to designate each team host one pink meet to raise awareness for the disease.
At Thursday’s practice, Klages shared a powerful anecdote about a previous Flip for the Cure in which Angie Howard, Jan Howard’s daughter, spoke to the crowd.
“Angela spoke to the crowd, ‘If anyone in the audience has been diagnosed with breast cancer, please stand. If you’ve ever lost someone to breast cancer, known anyone who’s lost someone to breast cancer, please stand,’” Klages said. “And by the end, the whole crowd is on their feet, and it shows that breast cancer affects so many people.”
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