Every year, 5280 Gymnastics participates in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Fundraising event to honor our beloved gym founder, Jim Trammell.
Click HERE To donate to the Jim-Nastics Fundraiser
♥ WHO DO YOU FLIP FOR DEDICATION ♥
Our 5280 gymnasts are flipping not only for Jim but in support of those near and dear to them. Here are our tributes to honor those lives remembered, those flighting their battle, and our strong survivors…
Gymnast Jayden Hookham who is a member of our North Men’s team wanted to honor Jim and Beth Trammell, founders of 5280 Gymnastics. Here are his words: I am wanting to honor Jim and Beth Trammell for all the dedication and support they have for gymnastics and their gym 5280 Gymnastics. Jim lost his battle with Multiple Myeloma, but is remembered for his fight against this disease and never giving up. Never giving up is something we should all fight for always.
Crissy Cobain
Trevor Cobain, who is one of our boys pre-team gymnasts at our South gym is dedicating his trick-a-thon to his mom Chrissy Cobain. Chrissy is sharing her brave story with us: My name is Crissy Cobain. I am the mother of two beautiful kids 7 and 13. I am 39 years old. In this last year of May 2020 just as the quarantine was lifting I happened to have noticed a odd lump/bump that looked like nothing I’d ever seen before. It was along my neck right at my collarbone. A week later I was unfortunately diagnosed with classic Hodgkins Lymphoma. This day crumbled beneath my feet and I was faced head on with how fragile life really is. Luckily they said I caught it early at a stage two and I had a wonderful Doctor. There isn’t much that can prepare you for what your about to go through physically and emotionally. Luckily again through all this I found out that it was a curable and treatable cancer. I gave thanks to the Heavens above. I believe I am a survivor though I have a small amount more to go through. I have just finished 4 months of chemotherapy and I only have a month of radiation to go. However I won’t speak lightly on informing people that cancer and fighting cancer isn’t for the faint of heart.. It is an invisible enemy that will test you to your limits in more ways then one and while the drugs that fight this cancer fight it well they are also very cruel to your body.
I feel blessed to be able to stand here today to share my story.
Listen to your body.. and get things checked out quickly. Trust your instincts.
Please feel free to ask questions.
Matt Cohen
Matt Cohen is gymnasts’ Chloe and Asher Cohen’s Dad. Chloe and Asher are both Level 10’s on our JO Teams at our North gym and are flipping to support their dad who is currently fighting his battle against multiple myeloma (the same type of cancer that our founder, Jim Trammell lost his battle to). This photo marked the celebration of enduring 200 rounds of chemo. He’s now well over 300!
Dedication words from Chloe: My dad has been fighting multiple myeloma for seven and a half years now. I flip for him because he is the strongest person I know. His resilience and strength is like no one I have ever seen and I admire him so much everyday because of it. He puts as much energy as he can every single day to make us smile and make us happy, and I love him so much for not only that, but his kindness, bravery, and so much more.
Dedication words from Asher: My dad has been fighting multiple myeloma for over 7 years, and he’s gone through a failed stem cell transplant, and over 310 rounds of chemotherapy. My father is the strongest man I know, and I admire his determination and perseverance, and I strive to be as strong as him everyday. My dad is one of my biggest inspirations in life, and especially gymnastics. He’s taught me through this battle to never give up, no matter how hard things may get, and he’s taught me to always be the strongest person I can be.
Grandpa Joe
Layla D is one of our JO North girls gymnasts. Her dedication is for her Grandpa: Grandpa was one of my biggest fans. He loved me ‘to the moon and back’, I loved him just the same. Always in the stands cheering me on, and always watching down sending his love. *Standing on the moon with nothing else to do, a lovely view from heaven, but I’d rather BE WITH YOU*
Glenn Martin, Hiromichi & Yoshiko Kajiwara
Mason Martin is one of our JO North boys gymnasts and he is flipping for his paternal and maternal grandparents! Glenn Martin was my grandfather who was a prostate cancer survivor who died in old age. Hiromichi is my grandfather in Japan who is another prostate cancer survivor. He is 76 years old today. Yoshiko is my grandmother in Japan and she is also a cancer survivor. She is 75 years old today. I’d like to honor them for how they fought the cancer battle. Throughout their treatment, they showed me their strength and desire to live. From time to time they were frightened and questioned about their ability to fight against cancer. When they fell down, they stood back up again and again. They were warriors who never quit fighting. Their determination reminds me of my gymnastic endeavor. I want to take my time to honor them and other patients who are going through their hardships. Let’s see how many times I can do a backflip to raise money for this event. Cancer can’t take our hope away. Cancer can’t conquer our spirit. Cancer can’t take our soul.
David Milam
Gymnast Abigail Singer who is on our North JO Girls team, will be honoring her great uncle David for the LLS trick-a-thon. Here is her dedication to him: I am flipping in honor of my great uncle, David Milam. Less than 6 months after receiving a liver transplant 2 1/2 years ago, he was diagnosed with Unclassifiable Myelodysplastic Syndrome. He has been undergoing experimental therapies at the University of Alabama including monthly blood transfusions, sometimes receiving up to 10 pints of blood a time, and chemotherapy. Fundraisers like this help support the research to improve his treatments and quality of life. My uncle loves knowledge, golf, and music. He plays the harmonica and is a singer and songwriter who has collaborated with various blues and rock musicians over the decades. David is the biggest people person and instantly makes friends wherever he goes. He is always the first person to try to lend a helping hand to others any way he can whether he has known them his entire life or never met before. He is not one who likes being in the spotlight himself or taking credit for his generosities. Instead, he prefers living a quiet life enjoying the company of family and close friends and taking his dogs on long walks. Throughout all of his treatments and months in the hospital at a time, he has maintained a positive and inspiring attitude. I want him to get well enough to be able to enjoy traveling again, so he can come watch one of my gymnastics competitions one day and teach me to play golf.
Karol Miodonski
Karol is gymnast Oliver’s dad. Oliver level 5 gymnast at our South gym and is dedicating his trick-a-thon to honor his dad who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia when Oliver was just 3 years old. He had a bone marrow transplant and has been cancer free for 4.5 years! Oliver is so thankful to have LLS searching for a cure – he wants to keep his dad around for a long time to come!
Jeff Stankiewicz
Jeff is gymnast Ellie’s father. Ellie is an XCEL gymnast at our South gym and she is flipping for her dad who was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma in 2014. He underwent intensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. He won his first battle and successfully gained a five year remission. His blood cancer came back this year and he is currently back in treatment.
Tammy Brand
Gymnast Hana Gray who is on our South JO Girls team would like to honor her mom’s cousin Tammy. Tammy lost her battle to Leukemia when she was in her 20’s. She loved horses and always had a big smile on her face.