Olympic Gold Medalist Shannon Miller to help with Tropical Twisters fund raiser

Author: Shannon Miller

By DREW WINCHESTER, and published in the FL Guide, one of the Breeze Newspapers

Tropical Twisters Gymnastics will welcome Olympic Gold Medalist Shannon Miller on Sept. 18 as part of National Gymnastics Day. Partnering with the Tyson Foods Fitness Challenge and USA Gymnastics, the event is a fund raiser for the Children’s Miracle Network. Tropical Twisters also will celebrate its one year anniversary in their new gym. “We want everyone in the community to come out and be involved in this,” said Lisa Johnson, owner of Tropical Twisters. Johnson is hoping the appearance of Miller, along with some free food, drinks, games and raffles, will bring out people to help raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Miller, who Johnson said lives in Jacksonville, was eager to come lend a hand to a good cause. Johnson said Miller will be donating items to a silent auction just for that reason. “She’s going to be here for the day. She’ll be doing a questions-and-answers session for those who want to ask questions, and she’ll sign autographs,” Johnson said. In conjunction with the fund-raising efforts, National Gymnastics Day also is about supporting health and nutrition for kids. Johnson is hoping the presence of Miller will help to inspire her students, or maybe those who have been curious about gymnastics but never given it a try. “She does have the name, and even if you’re not into gymnastics, you can appreciate an Olympian,” Johnson said. “It’s easy to see what can be accomplished.”

The inclusion of the Children’s Miracle Network as a fund-raising mechanism is also meant to inspire her students, Johnson said, by letting them know that not everyone is as fortunate as they are. “We really want to give back to the community,” Johnson added.

The gym also will host a “Cartwheelathon” to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. For more information contact Tropical Twisters at 239-540-9800, or visit their website at http://tropicaltwistersgymnastics.com.

TIP:  Donations can be made to the Children’s Miracle Network through the Tropical Twisters website.

Read this article and more in the Cape Coral, Florida, FL Guide