Alicia Boren receives a big hug from her Aunt Kathy after the 2018 Gators Link to Pink meet. Aunt Kathy is back in Gainesville for tonight's Link to Pink to stand alongside her fellow breast cancer survivors and to cheer Alicia.
Aunt Kathy Joins Fellow Breast Cancer Survivors Tonight for Gators Link to Pink
Thursday, February 7, 2019 | Gymnastics
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Alicia Boren's Aunt Kathy is back for her third Gators Link to Pink - a meet that inspires her to stand alongside her fellow breast cancer survivors. It also give her a chance to cheer Boren in person.
By: Lauren Staff - UF Athletics Communications
Tonight's 13th-annual Gators Link to Pink meet is a special event for everyone in attendance, including the gymnasts and breast cancer survivors.
There will be pink leotards, a pink t-shirt giveaway and pink food for sale.
But, most importantly, the meet is an opportunity to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention and treatment.
In the crowd, will be a woman who holds a special place in senior Alicia Boren's heart and who has a personal connection to the meet's cause.
While not related by blood, Alicia's "Aunt" Kathy Phillips made the trip from Washington D.C. to see her niece perform tonight and is one of the breast cancer survivors who will be celebrated.
Alicia Boren (right) with her Aunt Kathy Phillips. She makes her third trip to Gainesville for the Gators Link to Pink meet to join her fellow breast cancer survivors and to cheer Alicia.
This is Kathy's third consecutive year she's traveled to Gainesville for the Gators Link to Pink meet. It is an event that she looks forward to each year.
"It's become one of the most special things that I do in my life," she said. "The women that I have met here over the years are really tremendous. They remind me what it means to be a survivor."
Kathy has known Alicia since her parents brought her home from the hospital and over the years has seen her grow as a person and as an athlete.
She remembers a young Alicia trying to jump from the loft in her house onto the ceiling fan.
From that moment on, she knew Alicia was destined for success.
"She's really flowered into a wonderful and beautiful young woman," Kathy said.
Alicia and her teammates are ready to put on a great meet against No. 12 Auburn for all the survivors, and having her aunt there to cheer her on makes the night even more exciting.
"She means the world to me," Boren said. "To have her out on the floor with me is just an amazing experience."
Kathy said she loves watching Alicia on every event and she's most excited to see her floor routine.
Alicia's beam routine will be an obstructed view for Kathy. She watches her compete on that event through her fingers because she gets too nervous.
"I am just so proud. I feel like I could just burst in the stands," Kathy said. "She's so talented. There's just no words to describe what I feel."
Alicia won't be competing for herself tonight; she will be competing in honor of her aunt and all of the breast cancer survivors.
"I'm just glad that I can do that for her," Alicia said.
