Making wishes come true
News-Sun staff report December 18, 2012 4:54PM
Ready to start competition at the recent Ultimate Wish Classic meet are members of the Level 9 and 10 girls team from Ultimate Gymnastics of Gurnee. They are (from left) Ally Hoyer, Lauren Marshall, Emily Basara and Bailee Hardy. | SPECIAL TO SUN-TIMES MEDIA
EVENT WINNERS
ULTIMATE GYM GIRLS AT MAKE-A-WISH MEET LEVEL 7
Hailey Shuman — 1st in all-around & floor in Senior B age group.
L EVEL 5
Ashley Derrick — 1st in all-around, vault, beam & Floor in Junior A age group.
Kayleigh Glickley — 1st in all-around & vault.
LEVEL 8
Ella Peter — 1st in vault in Junior age group.
Emily Whitis — 1st on floor in Senior A age group.
Hunter Bode — 1st in all-around and floor in Senior B age group.
LEVEL 10
Emily Basara — 1st in all-around, vault and bars.
Lauren Marshall — 1st on beam.
LEVEL 6
Lyndsey Basara — 1st in all-around and floor in Junior A age group.
Emily Isabellia — 1st on beam in Junior A age group.
Gracie Gnatt — 1st in vault in Junior A age group.
Kylie Skie — 1st in vault, beam & Floor in Senior age group.
Updated: January 20, 2013 6:09AM
Continuing a long tradition of granting wishes for children with life threatening conditions, Ultimate Gymnastics of Gurnee can now add a 13th successful meet to its list of achievements.
This year’s Ultimate Wish Classic, which raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, brought in more than $55,000 for this great cause and the counting is not done yet!
Held recently at Harper College in Palatine, the 13th annual Ultimate Wish Classic was run strictly by volunteers, explained Ultimate owner Rebecca Sanders. “Our staff, parents and gymnasts all give their time to help out, “ she said. “We even have some parents whose children have outgrown our program and who still come and work the entire weekend. We couldn’t do it without all their hard work and dedication.”
Money for Make-A-Wish is raised at the meet and also by other activities held at the Gurnee-based gym, including the Ultimate Cartwheel-a-thon and the Leos for Wishes sale. Vendors at the meet donate a portion of their profits to the cause and there is a very popular gift- basket raffle.
“There are many things that make this meet so special,” Sanders explained. “Everyone comes together not only for a gymnastics competition, but also to help children and their families who are going through very difficult times.”
In the years since the meet started, Ultimate has raised more than $485,000 for Make-A-Wish.
The wishes that Ultimate have been able to grant have been very varied from meeting the Pope in Rome to trips to Disney World and Hawaii.
“We are delighted to help this wonderful cause,” Sanders said. “One mom’s comment summed it up best. She said ‘Doctors heal the patient but Make-A-Wish heals the families.’”
