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Fundraiser Helps Family Follow Gymnast Jordyn Wieber To The Olympics

Gymnast Jordyn Wieber signs an autograph for a fan at a fundraiser to help her family attend the Olympic Games in London.
Sherry Bass-Pohl

    Hundreds of people were on hand yesterday at a DeWitt church to help the family of Olympic hopeful Jordyn Wieber follow her to London this summer.
    Wieber's mother, Rita, expressed gratitude for the turnout. 
    "We don't get any funding or anything for the family," Wieber states, "so it's just like paying to go, like anybody else would. And as you can imagine, it's really expensive. We didn't really go out and ask for anybody to do this! But when somebody offered, we obviously were very grateful, because it's going to take some of the stress off of the cost, which is in the tens of thousands of dollars."
    Jordyn Wieber signed autographs for fans at the event.
    Wieber's parents are hoping to take Jordyn's three siblings and one other person to attend the Olympic Games.
    Wieber is a favorite to win a gymnastics medal in London. She leaves for the Olympic trials in San Jose, California, today.

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Scott Pohl is a general assignment news reporter and produces news features and interviews. He is also an alternate local host on NPR's "Morning Edition."