HILLSDALE—Aeon Fitness and Gymnastics hosted a Handstand Walk for Kids Challenge on Thursday, Oct. 27, supporting life-saving pediatric cancer research. Their competitive team gymnasts, 75 girls and boys, fundraised for participation in the Handstand Walk.
Fundraisers included a bake sale on Saturday, Oct. 15 and a “Dining for Dollars” event with Domani Restaurant in Hillsdale on Tuesday, Oct. 25 where 15% of all dine in or take out orders placed went right to the cause.
The international awareness symbol for Childhood Cancer is the gold ribbon. As the event was right before Halloween, each competitive team level chose a yellow or gold costume to dress up in.
The event was attended by Caryn Leventhal, the founder of Handstand Walk for Kids; Colleen Currlin, who works for Memorial Sloan Kettering Kids; and Aeon competitive team coaches and staff.
The Handstand Walk was led with grace and grip by two team captains, Aeon’s competitive team gymnasts, Sophia R. and Caitlyn C.
Aeon’s team athletes walked across the floor for 10 minutes on their hands, tagging their teammates after each lap. The goal was to walk as many miles as they could for cancer.
Aeon Fitness and Gymnastics told Pascack Press the athletes walked an impressive 2.47 miles on their hands and raised more than $21,000 for Memorial Sloan Kettering Kids.
The gymnasts dedicated their walk to an individual of their choosing by decorating a sign that said “I handstand walk for…”
Pediatric cancers are underfunded as they are considered rare, even though it is the leading cause of death by disease in the United States among kids under 19.
Organizers said, “Pharmaceutical companies spend minimal dollars researching drugs for children because they lack the ability to reap large profits. This leaves the funding of new research and drugs largely up to philanthropic efforts, such as Handstand Walk for Kids, where 100% of donations go directly to doctors and researchers.”
Aeon said it’s proud it was able to help raise money for such an amazing cause. Though the event is over, it’s still accepting donations: visit kidswalkmsk.org/donate.
For high-res moments from the event, by Hillsdale Happenings’ Zoltán Horváth, visit digitalvisionphotography.us.