The Langley Gymnastics Foundation (LGF) took a page from Christy Fraser, the little girl whose name is on the foundation’s big annual competition. When heavy snow fell on the community, it didn’t stop the foundation from hosting the Christy Fraser Memorial Invitational Feb. 3 to 5.
Christy died in 1992 at the age of 12, but not before throwing herself into the sport. The LGF member was a determined athlete who was known for always sporting a smile and a positive attitude.
Her family wanted to help others and set up a fund to provide equipment for BC Children’s Hospital as well as the gymastics club. Out of that desire came the invitational, which raises funds.
“I can remember running the Christy Fraser Memorial in our gymnastics training centre by the Langley airport,” said gym manager Melissa Coombes. “We had very few clubs attending back then. The event has evolved and changed over the years, going from scoring athletes on paper to using computer software to enter scores and tally results.”
Despite the event’s growth over the years, Christy Fraser’s family continues to be involved. Lory Fraser is a founding member of the foundation.
“We are so fortunate to have Lory Fraser, Christy’s mom, year after year taking a lead roll in the organization of the event,” Coombes said. “She organizes the hospitality for all the judges, coaches and volunteers and also, watches each session looking to award a special athlete who shows the same positive characteristics that Christy had when she was an athlete.”
This year’s biggest challenge proved not to be the competition, but the inclement weather.
“The weather definitely created challenges with snow removal being difficult and participants families, coaches, and judges being concerned regarding driving,” she said. “We were so impressed with the dedication of families, clubs, and judges coming out for the event, whether they were bringing their athletes and cheering them on, or volunteering for the event.”
Despite the weather, the number of competitors was on par with previous invitationals.
They came from Vancouver Island, Prince George, Quesnel, Kamloops and around the Lower Mainland.
“We had 750 athletes attend, this is our usual turn out for our event that has grown to such a large competition,” she noted. “Really a fantastic representation of the province.”
