Cheerleaders Giving Thanks And Honoring Those That Came Before

The Staunton High School Cheer Squad would like to thank the community for all the love and support directed towards the SHS Cheer Squad on Saturday, June 27 at Bill’s IGA. The cheer squad appreciates the donations and appreciates Bill’s IGA for hosting them.

Special thanks are to be given to a kind gentleman who made a trip to his storage unit after seeing the cheerleaders at the grocery store because he knew he needed to not only make a monetary donation but a very sentimental donation to the cheer organization and SHS. The gentleman came back from his storage unit with a tote full of amazing memorabilia that used to belong to his niece.

Looking at the contents within the tote, one could visibly see an old cheer uniform, letterman jacket and cheer sweaters. Head Coach McDonald and her cheer squad shared a heartfelt, genuine moment with this gentleman as both the squad and the gentleman fought back tears, the girls patiently waited while he explained how cheerleading was very special to his niece and that she had unfortunately passed away at very young age of 26 from Cystic Fibrosis. He said he knew she would be proud to know it went back to where it all started from. All he asked was to hear another cheer, and that is exactly what he got.

To the kind gentleman who donated the personal memorabilia in honor of his late niece, on behalf of the SHS Cheerleaders and coaches, the squad is honored and grateful to carry on those memories while also making and developing their own.

H.C. Mandy McDonald,

SHS Cheerleaders