BY LISA BROUGHAM

The Bowen Island Senior Competitive Gymnastics team has the opportunity to perform a group gymnastics routine at the National Gymnaestrada in Winnipeg this summer. The event is a pre-requisite to attending the World Gymnaestrada in Switzerland in July of 2011, something the team intends to do.

The World Gymnaestrada is the largest general gymnastics exhibition and like the Olympics is held every four years. It was first held in Rotterdam in 1953 and features adults and kids of all ages; while participants come from all over the world the event has never been held outside of Europe.

Several of the 13 gymnasts on the Bowen Island National Gymnaestrada Performance Team – 11 to 13 years old – have been gymnasts with Bowen Island Gymnastics since the age of two. Many years, bake sales, car washes, events and training sessions later the gymnasts are excited to put their years of dedication to the test by working toward representing Canada in Winnipeg at the nationals and then the world’s in Switzerland.

To help get them there, the Bowen Island Senior Girls Gymnaestrada team will be hosting a Wine and Cheese Silent Auction and Wine Cache Raffle on Nov. 14, from 7-10 p.m. at Artisan Eats. All proceeds will go towards the costs of sending the gymnasts to National Gymnaestrada. A wine raffle will also be held at the Bowen Island Beer and Wine Store where you can buy a bottle of wine to win a cache of wine, an instant wine cellar.

The gymnasts would like to thank the many businesses on Bowen that have already generously donated their services to the silent auction. If you are interested in making a donation to the Silent Auction or have any questions, please contact fundraising coordinator Diane Murphy at 604-947-9800 or at dianemurphy@shaw.ca.