Puyallup Teen Gymnast Paralyzed After Fall Needs Community Support

Members of the Puyallup and Sumner communities are busy organizing local fundraisers after a young gymnast suffered from a paralyzing fall at Roach Gymnastics on Friday afternoon.

Jacoby Miles, 15, is a student at Ballou Junior High in Puyallup and was performing a routine maneuver on the uneven bars at Roach Gymnastics in Sumner when she fell, suffering a traumatic injury. She is now paralyzed from the waist down, according to doctors.

She is a Level 9 gymnast and was performing a double back dismount from the high bar into the pit, when she “got lost” before her second flip was completed and landed on her neck, according to the GoFundMe online fundraising page set up in her name.

She was transported to St. Joseph’s Medical Center and later transferred to Harborview, where she underwent surgery.

Miles is paralyzed from the waist down, but doctors are hopeful that she will regain some feeling in her upper body.

Since her accident, several have stepped forward to help. A donation page has been set up in her name, plus a support blog. Dan and Melanie Roach of Roach Gymnastics sent a mass email to their gymnastics club to help her family get more attention and support.

How Can I Help?

There are several ways to help Jacoby and the Miles family needs support now than ever, with mounting medical bills.

Read the Get Well Jacoby blog.

Visit Jacoby's fundraiser site on GoFundMe.

Roach Gymnastics has also offered the following ways to help:

Book Sales
On the same day of the accident, Melanie Roach's new book Lift: Enjoying the Journey of Life was released on Amazon.  Melanie has committed to give 100 percent of the book sale profits to aid in Jacoby's recovery and ongoing expenses.  You can purchase the book at Amazon.com.

Cash Donations

Roach Gymnastics is accepting cash, check or visa donations on behalf of the Mile's family until a charity account can be set up in Jacoby's name. You can also donate online at Roachgymnastics.com.  Please specify it is for the Team Jacoby Fund.

Drop off or send donations to:
Team Jacoby Fund c/o Roach Gymnastics and Cheer
1627 45th St. E., Bldg. D-103
Sumner, WA 98390

Donate by phone.  Call the gym at 253-826-5999.

Grocery/Restaurant Gift Cards:
Roach Gymnastics is organizing and delivering daily meals to the family at home and the hospital and could use grocery gift cards to help provide these meals.

Roach Gymnastics Clinics:

Roach Gymnastics will be holding gymnastics clinics for all levels on Monday 11/19, Tuesday 11/20 and Wednesday 11/21.  100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Team Jacoby Fund.  Options are 4pm-6pm for levels 3-5 and a 6pm-8pm for level 6-10.  The cost will be $25 per gymnast.  Please call Roach Gymnastics at 253-826-5999 to register.

Get Well Cards:

The gymnastics community, spearheaded by Sandy at Emerald City Gymnastics, is doing a massive fundraiser where gymnasts from across the country are making get well cards for Jacoby and including a minimum of $20 in it.  Her goal is to raise $50,000 by Thanksgiving.

Send cards to:
Team Jacoby Fund
c/o ECGA
17735 NE 65th St. Suite 110
Redmond, WA 98052