A GROUP OF LOCAL GYMNASTS COMPETED IN FOR GOOD CAUSE IN PHILADELPHIA OVER THE WEEKEND. 

The LAKETTES COMPETED IN THE Pink Meet RAISES MONEY FOR THOSE BATTLING BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER.

TEAMS were CHALLENGED TO RAISE A MINIMUM OF 500 DOLLARS BEFORE THE MEET

A TOTAL OF 4,000 girls COMPETED IN THE MEET RAISING $220,000. 
THE MONEY GOES TOWARDS ANYTHING NOT COVERED BY A PATIENTS INSURANCE SUCH AS FOOD AND TRAVEL.

"A LOT OF THE CANCER PATIENTS TELL THEIR STORIES TO ALL THE GIRLS AND SOME OF THEM ARE RELATIVES OF GIRLS COMPETING", explains the Lakettes team director mary hawley. 

EVERY GIRL IN THE MEET WEARS A MATCHING LEOTARD, WITH A MESSAGE OF UNITY ON THE BACK.
THE GIRLS WHO COMPETED SAY THEIR FAVORITE PART OF IT IS THE FEELING OF FAMILY.

WE FEEL LIKE A FAMILY WHEN WE ALL WEAR THE SAME LEOtard, " says 13 year old callie inks.  "WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. WE'RE ALL GYMNASTS AND GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE SAME EXPeriences,  THE HILLS AND THE WHOLE RIDE OF GYMNASTICs". 

WHILE THEY HAVE FUN COMPETING, THE GIRLS SAY IT'S ALSO NICE KNOWING THEY'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

"EVERYBODY PROBABLY KNOWS SOMEBODY THAT'S GONE THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT", shares 14 year old Tori Spearman. "IT'S AN AMAZING FEELING KNOWING YOU HELPED THEM".