Anne Duncan with Kansas Gymnastics and Cheer and 14-year-old gymnast Maddie Kampschroeder discussed the Pink Ribbon Gymnastics Invitational. The event was inspired by Duncan’s sister who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Duncan has organized the meet to raise money for breast cancer research, but also to educate young women about the disease.
Approximately 290,000 women are diagnosed with some form of breast cancer each year in the United States. One of every 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. In 2007, the Pink Ribbon Invitational came to fruition as the Kansas gymnastics community stepped up to fight breast cancer.
Kansas Gymnastics and Cheer (KGDC) to make a difference for women, both young and old, who may one day have to fight this disease. The Duncan family has been involved with gymnastics in the Kansas City area for over thirty years as athletes, coaches, and judges. In 1989, the Duncan family opened KGDC, a family owned gymnastics training center in Olathe, Kansas.
In 2007, the Pink Ribbon Invitational evolved as a USA Gymnastics sanctioned competition featuring gymnasts from around the United States, levels 1-10. The focus of the PRI is to increase awareness and educate the community regarding breast cancer and to raise money to support research and treatment of breast cancer. The PRI is a perfect venue to educate those most at risk — young women. In addition, it is a great opportunity for young athletes learn that great things can result from some of life’s most difficult challenges.
