F
or the past five years, LSU gymnastics has
joined forces with Bradie James' Foundation 56 to host the annual Etta James Memorial Meet to raise awareness and funds to fight
breast cancer. Foundation 56 was established
by former LSU standout linebacker and current
Houston Texans defensive star, Bradie James
after his mother, Etta, succumbed to breast
cancer in February 2002.
The first Etta James Memorial Meet against
Alabama in 2008 successfully raised $30,000
to promote breast cancer awareness in the
Baton Rouge area, and the Second Annual Etta
James Memorial Meet in 2009 against North
Carolina State raised more than $50,000 for
the organization to help fight the disease. In
2010, the third annual meet raised $38,366 and
in 2011 the fourth Etta James Meet brought in
$52,180.
In the fifth annual meet in 2012, a record
$100,000 was raised to help Foundation 56's
mission. In all, LSU gymnastics and the Baton Rouge community have raised more than
$270,000 for Foundation 56's fight against
breast cancer, and LSU and Foundation 56 will
team up once again in 2013.
