(LEWES, Del.) A team of 9-12-year-old cheerleaders in the Cape Henlopen School District has almost achieved their dream.
The Cape Vikings Pee Wee Cheerleading Squad has been practicing 3 nights a week since August with the goal of making it to the Pop Warner National Championships in Florida. They're on the right track. After placing second at the Henlopen conference, they now find themselves raising funds to travel to regionals in Trenton, New Jersey.
Assistant Coach Jennifer Hendrick explains how they've been raising money. "We've been doing some fundraisers. Right now we're selling t-shirts for the girls and the parents with everyone's names on it. We've been doing pancake breakfast at Applebees, selling Yankee Candles, different things like that."
Head Coach Felicia Sellers adds, "We're working on other fundraisers. We're also asking if any businesses can help sponsor to get the money for the girls even if family members want to donate."
These girls haven't been to nationals before, but student demonstrator Natalie Buckman sees lots of potential. "I think if we practice and all of the girls are 110% every practice, we'll get there," she says.
It's going to cost around $2,000 to get the team to regionals but they're fundraising beyond that goal in the event the team makes it to nationals in Florida. That would cost around $30,000 in mostly travel expenses.
Head Coach Felicia Sellers hopes to have these funds as soon as possible. "We actually go to Trenton in 3 weeks and then right after that, if those girls advance, it's a 2 week turn around for them to get to Florida so we're hoping to as soon as possible to have all the money so we're good to go to get to Florida," she says.
"This would be a really big deal for all of the girls. I know they're really working hard to get there and we're all really excited that we could get a chance to go," adds Coach Hendrick.
Miranda Schmidt, one of the Pee Wee cheerleaders, says the team has earned this. "I want to make it to nationals because I think we're a very hard working team and I think we deserve it and I think it would be a really cool experience."
The squad has already raised around $1,000 and they're going to keep pushing to raise as much as they can before regionals. They're looking for more organizations and businesses in the community to sponsor the team or fundraising events. The public is also welcome to make donations. Anyone who wants to help should email Coach Sellers at capevikingscheervp@gmail.com