Every time 12-year-old Malik De Pasquale has taken the floor for competition in the last year, his mind has been split between the task at hand and his family.
The Dayton resident, who has become one of the top male gymnasts in the state, often finds himself thinking about his 6-year-old sister, who is battling cancer for the second time.
"It's hard watching her go through that," DePasquale said. "She's never been able to make it to one of my meets, but I'm thinking of her when I compete."
His family makes frequent trips UC Davis for treatment, leaving him staying with friends or relatives in order to accomodate his rigorous training schedule.
"A lot of people have been very nice to let me stay with them so I can keep working," he said.
DePasquale has been working out at the Tumbleweeds gym in Minden for the past two years.
Last year was a breakout season for him as he won the all-around Level 5 state championship and qualified for the USA Gymnastics Region I Championships.
His fortes were the high bar, floor and vault.
He's been busy in the gym this summer, working toward his goal for this season.
"I want to try to make it back to regionals," he said. "If things go really well, I want to try for nationals."
During the course of the last season, he got to meet some of the gymnasts on the men's national team.
"I want to be in the Olympics some day," DePasquale said. "Getting to meet some of those athletes, that encouraged me. It made me think, 'That's where I want to be someday.'"
His coaches and friends at Tumbleweeds organized a fundraiser to help the family offset the costs for their frequent trips to California, not to mention the medical bills.
They will be watching the women's Olympic gymnastics finals Aug. 12 at the Centerfield Bar & Grill.
Centerfield will be donating 10 percent of its proceeds from 4:30 p.m. to closing to the DePasquale family. A silent auction will also be conducted.
For more information on the fundraiser, contact Tumbleweeds Gymnastics at 782-4496.
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