Used with permission — by Matt Deville
Tiger Rag Magazine
If you’ve ever been to an LSU Gymnastics meet at the Pete Maravich Center, it’s not hard to spot head coach D-D Breaux.
For 30 years, Breaux has led the LSU Gymnastics team with unparalleled fire. The veteran coach recently got the opportunity to carry that fire from the gymnastics arena out into the community.
Breaux recently served as the honorary chairperson for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, an annual event held in the capitol city to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness.
“You know I am not sure how I really got involved,” Breaux said. “I have been involved with Encore Plus and YWCA and breast cancer awareness. I have been involved with them for a few years and help with their quilt auction, which helps them raise money for the YWCA.”
Breaux was an also an honorary chairperson in 2006, but wasn’t able to attend the event because her LSU Gymnastics squad was on the road. Breaux said she was excited to get the opportunity to be on hand to participate in this year’s event.
“I participated last year, but I missed the event because my team was out of town,” Breaux said. “But then they asked me this year and it coincided with a weekend that I was going to be in town, it was really exciting. To go out there Saturday morning and be a part of it and get caught up in it, be hands on, touch the people, talk to them. I was blown away by the inspiration and all that these people have been through. It is amazing.”
The Race had been held in the North Blvd. area near the Old Governor’s Mansion, but the event outgrew the location. This year, the Race moved to an area located in front of the current Governor’s Mansion adjacent to Interstate I-110 North. A record 8,000-plus participants took part in the Race and in excess of $250,000 was raised for the Komen Foundation.
Governor Kathleen Blanco attended the event along with Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius, who was in Baton Rouge for a luncheon held later in the day.
“The turnout was fabulous,” Breaux said. “To be in front of the Governor’s Mansion. For the governor of the state of Louisiana and the governor of Kansas be there to come out and talk, to be so gracious and so enthusiastic about the event, it’s wonderful.
Breaux couldn’t say enough about the turnout and the people who volunteered to make this year’s Race the biggest and best ever.
“This is a real happening in Baton Rouge,” Breaux said. “I mean, the Interstate was blocked. You couldn’t get to the place. It was just absolutely a fabulous thing to be a part of.”
And Breaux displayed the same fire by which she shows at every LSU meet. One thing is for sure, she is never lacking energy.
“Me?” Breaux exclaimed. “No never!”
Breaux not only served as the honorary chairperson, but also delivered a motivational pep talk during the Survivor’s Ceremony, an emotional gathering of Breast Cancer survivors just before the race begins.
“It was an honor to be asked to be a part of that, to go out and give a pep talk to these people,” Breaux said. “I talked to those people like I would talk to my team. It was fun.”
While the emotion was the same, Breaux said her talk to these ladies was a bit different from talking to her team. Looking into the eyes of people who have battled a deadly disease and won is much different on many different levels.
“That is a different animal,” Breaux said. “When you are talking to these ladies about going out there and hit that beam routine or stick that vault landing, you are talking to these people about fighting the good fight. I tell them, ?look to your left, look to your right, that’s your sister. That is who you can count on and who you need and who will be there for you.’”
Breaux concluded with the powerful aspect of the Race is everyone has some sort of connection to another individual that has been affected by the disease.
“I think everybody knows somebody who has had breast cancer,” Breaux said. “Everybody has known someone who has fought that fight. Most everyone knows someone who has fought that fight and lost it. All of this makes that so special.”