These past few weeks have been extremely hectic with a whirlwind of activities for the Bama gymnastics staff. Several of the Tide gymnasts have returned to campus to either take a summer school class or help participate in the annual Alabama Gymnastics Summer Camp. This past week 150 future Bama hopefuls trained in our facility with Tide coaches and gymnasts.

It was a great week and now we turn our attention to Camp Smile-A-Mile and the annual "Ride of Love." The "Ride of Love" is a fund raiser for Camp SAM, a camp designed specifically for those children recovering from cancer. The ride will take place Monday, June 14th beginning here in Tuscaloosa and will end some 12 hours and 150 miles later on the shores of Lake Martin where Camp SAM is located. David, Bryan, Dr. Jimmy Robinson our team physician, and former Bama gymnast Whitney Morgan and Kristin Sterner will join 40 other bicycle riders as they ride to raise over $50,000 to help send these special children to Camp SAM. Almost 8 years ago, David Patterson was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery to remove his left kidney. Shortly after his 5th year anniversary of being cancer free David decided to join Stephanie Wilkins our team nutritionist who had made the "Ride of Love" by herself in 2001. This marks David's third year participating in the ride and he is now joined by other dedicated members of the Alabama Gymnastics Family. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who has so generously contributed to the "Ride of Love." While cancer has touched all of us or a loved one in some manner over the years there could be nothing more difficult than having a child who has to fight this battle. Here's to another successful and safe ride on Monday, June 14th ...........and may these children experience a most special week at Camp Smile-A-Mile!

Thank you for helping to make this possible.