New Jersey Gymnast, 8, With ‘Rapid-Aging Disease’ Meets Olympian

VERONA, NJ — When Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez paid a visit to eight-year-old Zoey Penny and her teammates in New Jersey last week, the young athletes got an invaluable chance to learn from a world-class gymnast. But more importantly, the experience helped to raise some much-appreciated resources towards a cure for the rare, “rapid-aging” disease that Penny is diagnosed with: progeria.

Penny, a Verona resident, loves to draw, write letters to her pen pal, and laugh and hang out with her friends. She enjoys singing, dancing, and watching movies and she has an “insatiable passion for the sport of gymnastics,” her friends and family say. But due to her rare medical condition, it’s not as easy for her to train as it might be for another eight-year-old.

Enter Hernandez and Penny’s teammates at Tumble Techs Gymnastics Academy of Fairfield.

Over the past months, Tumble Techs’ gymnasts, coaches and supporters have raised more than $80,000 via online donations, a children’s boutique and a “Team Zoey” leotard sale. They plan to split the funds between donations to the Progeria Research Foundation and new gym equipment for Penny, which will better accommodate her needs and let her train safely.

As part of the fundraising push, Lucas Sports helped bring Hernandez, an Old Bridge native, to Essex County for a special, inspirational visit to Penny and her teammates on April 15 at Tumble Techs. (See photo slideshow above)

“Everyone was supportive and awesome,” said Zoey’s mother, Laura, who thanked Hernandez for her “time, attention, interesting stories, great advice, love, fun and kindness.”

It isn't just Hernandez who has been touched by the eight-year-old's big heart. Penny’s love for gymnastics – and overall zest for life - serves as a catalyst for everyone around her, according to Tumble Techs owner Heather Cullen.

“Zoey has garnered a lot of support from the local gymnastics community, as well as Olympic-level athletes, as she continues her fight against Progeria and trains in the sport that she loves,” Cullen said. “Zoey’s tenacity has already paid off, as she has received perfect 10’s for her routines on all four gymnastics apparatus this competition season. She is a true inspiration to us all.”

• See related article: NY Mets Hold Fundraiser For Verona Child With Rare, 'Rapid Aging' Disease

For more information about how to donate to “Team Zoey” and the Progeria Research Foundation, contact Tumble Techs Gymnastics Academy at 973-808-1900, or Heather Cullen at heathercullen2@gmail.com

What is progeria? According to the Progeria Research Foundation:

“Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome – ‘Progeria’ or ‘HGPS’ - is a rare, fatal genetic condition characterized by an appearance of accelerated aging in children… Progeria is caused by a tiny point mutation in a child’s DNA, a one-letter typo in the billions of letters that make up the chromosomal book… Progeria affects approximately 1 in 20 million people. There are an estimated 350 to 400 children living with Progeria worldwide at any one time. It affects both sexes equally and all races.”

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Photos courtesy of Kristina Drymalski