If you go
What: Harvest Moon Invitational
Where: Fitton Family YMCA
When: Saturday at 8 a.m. (Level 6), 12 p.m. (Level 4) and 5 p.m. (Levels 7-9; Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (Level 5)
Cost: Free
HAMILTON — More than 250 gymnasts will be in Hamilton this weekend for the seventh annual Harvest Moon Invitational at the Fitton Family YMCA.
The meet will feature 11 teams from as far away as Toledo and Cambridge competing on the YCMA’s brand new spring floor.
“It was just installed Friday so everyone is very excited,” said Cyndee Daniel, who coaches the Greater Miami Valley YMCA teams that will serve as hosts this weekend.
In addition to providing the gymnasts with quality competition, the invitational also serves as the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the season.
“The money we raise goes toward purchasing new equipment and helping to send the girls to the national meet,” Daniel said. “But this year we’re also doing it for another cause, donating part of the proceeds to juvenile diabetes research.”
Jennifer Balucan, an 8-year-old member of the Level 4 team, has juvenile diabetes, and November is Juvenile Diabetes Awareness Month.
“The money we raise comes from the team entry fees, and then we also have a pro shop and a concession stand,” Daniel said. “And this year we have Action Photo coming in. They’ll have people with cameras at four events, and then parents can look at the photos online and purchase the ones they want.”
The meet is a big undertaking for Daniel and all the others involved, but she said it’s all worth it.
“We have a lot of fun,” she said. “I really enjoy watching the kids learn and interact with all the other teams.”
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