INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 17, 2010 — On Sept. 18, 2010, gymnasts and gym clubs around the United States will celebrate the 11th annual National Gymnastics Day. National Gymnastics Day promotes physical fitness and gymnastics in communities throughout the country while raising money for Children’s Miracle Network through the Tyson Fitness Challenge. Since the partnership with Children’s Miracle Network was established in 2001, National Gymnastics Day has raised more than $1.2 million for Children’s Miracle Network through the participation and support of USA Gymnastics member clubs. All donations raised through the Tyson Fitness Challenge benefit Children’s Miracle Network hospitals in the club or gymnast’s local area.

“National Gymnastics Day is the one day a year that our community joins together to help promote our great sport at a higher level,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. “In addition to building awareness, National Gymnastics Day is also an opportunity to give back. Helping children in need is a worthy cause, and our family has done a tremendous job supporting Children’s Miracle Network.”

Below is a list of some of the activities planned throughout the country for this year’s National Gymnastics Day celebrations.

  • Tempe, Ariz. – Southwest Gymnastics Training Center kicked off National Gymnastics Day on Sept. 11 with an eight-station gymnastics fitness test. Each station tested how many or how long participants can do a specific skill for points. Scores will be posted on the gym’s website and prizes will be awarded for the top female and male non-gymnast and gymnast at the Sept. 18 open gym session. The open gym will include a bounce house and other fun activities, as well as baked goods. Participation in the fitness test was $1.00, and all monies raised will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network.

  • St. Louis, Mo. – All-American Gymnastics will hold a free Fitness Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 12-3 p.m. Activities for the whole family will include the Tyson Fitness Challenge, team demonstrations, door prizes, and fitness and health information from local businesses .

  • Cape Coral, Fla. – Tropical Twisters Gymnastics will host a one-year anniversary that includes a cartwheel-a-thon to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network. In addition, the gym will have a bounce house and will charge a small admission, putting 100% of those earnings towards Children’s Miracle Network.

  • San Jose, Calif. – The California Sports Center’s gymnastics locations are hosting a celebration on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 2-5 p.m. featuring a Cartwheel-a-thon for Children’s Miracle Network, Fitness Challenge booths, gymnastics demos, food and fun! The goal this year is 10,000 cartwheels and raising $15,000 for Children’s Miracle Network.

  • Las Vegas, Nev. – Go For It USA will attempt to break the Guinness world record for the most people to perform a cartwheel at the same time on National Gymnastics Day and has invited the public and all Las Vegas gymnastics to participate.

  • Chicago, Ill. – World Sport Chicago will host a Family Sport Festival, holding the Tyson Fitness Challenge as part of its activities on National Gymnastics Day.

For a complete list of registered events celebrating National Gymnastics Day throughout the country, click here.

To help build awareness of gymnastics, a four-page advertising insert, which appeared in the September 2010 issue of Parents magazine, communicates the benefits of gymnastics and shows how gym clubs provide an ideal environment for children. A joint initiative of the National Gymnastics Foundation and USA Gymnastics, the insert is the main focal point of USA Gymnastics’ second national grass roots marketing initiative focused on growing the sport. Gymnastics clubs across the country are using reprints of the insert to promote gymnastics. In addition, interested parents can learn more about gymnastics and its benefits, as well as locate a gym club in their community, at www.usagymclub.com.

The Tyson Fitness Challenge is a fitness initiative that encourages physical fitness through fun activities with an emphasis on strength training, cardiovascular exercise, flexibility and good nutrition. In addition to becoming more physically fit, participants also have the opportunity to raise funds to help kids in need through Children’s Miracle Network as part of National Gymnastics Day.

Organized by USA Gymnastics and its member clubs, National Gymnastics Day is co-chaired by 1984 Olympic all-around champion Mary Lou Retton and legendary gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, who mentored Retton as well as 1991 World all-around champion Kim Zmeskal, 1996 Olympic team gold-medalist Kerri Strug and Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci. USA Gymnastics has been a partner with Children’s Miracle Network since 2001.

To see year-by-year results from this fundraising effort, click here. For more information on Children’s Miracle Network visit ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org.