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Team Jacoby Fills Temple Theatre for VIP Fundraiser Featuring Olympic Athletes

Jacoby Miles' fundraiser at the Temple Theatre in Tacoma was a great success, thanks to family, friends a few famous Olympians.

Team Jacoby has gotten a little bigger, thanks to friends, family and a some famous Olympians.

Twelve Olympians traveled to Tacoma's Temple Theatre on Monday to show their support for Jacoby Miles, the 15-year-old Puyallup gymnast paralyzed after an accident on the uneven bars at Roach Gymnastics last month. They were joined by the students of Roach Gymnastics and about 400 guests ready to buy Rihanna concert tickets, vacation getaway packages and other goodies in the dinner auction.

Last night's fundraising goal was $125,000 for Miles' medical expenses and the community surpassed that, raising $155,000 overall. According to Miles family spokeswoman Julie Malloy, the lifetime cost of caring for a paraplegic is $5 million and $10 million for a quadriplegic.

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Olympic gymnastics greats who attended A Gift for Jacoby included 2004 All-Around Olympic Gold Medalist Gymnast Carly Patterson, 1984 Olympic Team Gold Medalist Peter Vidmar and 1996 Olympic Team Gold Medalists Kerri Strug and Amanda Borden.

VIPs in attendence included U.S. Olympians Melanie Roach (weightlifting), Hope Solo (Soccer), Solo's husband Jerramy Stevens (football), Bree Schaaf (bobsled), Ariana Kukors (swimming), Adrienne Martelli (crew rowing), Jennie Reed, (cycling), Queen Underwood (boxing), Kelly Stephens Tysland (hockey) Georganne Moline (track) and Hollywood actor Scott Schwartz.

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John Curley of 97.3 KIRO FM was auctioneer for the evening and former pro football player, ESPN commentator Brock Huard was emcee.

In just three weeks, Team Jacoby planned Monday's fundraiser, gathered volunteers to give the Miles home a complete makeover and generous donors gave them .

A few of Miles' family members were in attendance but Jacoby is still recovering at Children's Hospital in Seattle, said Malloy. The Miles family hopes Jacoby will be able to be released from the hospital before Christmas.


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