Cheerleaders get boost from Women Who Care

Members of 100+ Women Who Care of Will County recently donated $2,500 to the GymTyme "Hearts" Special Needs Cheerleading Team.

The donation will help members of the team, all of whom have special needs, finance a trip to Walt Disney Resort in Orlando to participate in the United States All Star Federation's Cheerleading and Dance World Championship.

"This substantial donation will enable the athletes and coaches to make a trip of a lifetime and to showcase the abilities of the disabled community," Coach Kaylee East said.

GymTyme Hearts is a special needs cheerleading team. Participation provides a chance for challenged individuals to be physically active, set goals, master new skills and make friends. Special abilities cheerleading teams are coed and comprised of athletes ages 5 and older with any type of disability.

Special needs are defined as a disability characterized by impairment of skills and overall intelligence in areas such as cognition, language, motor and social emotional abilities. Athletes on the entire spectrum of their disability are welcome to participate and athletes in wheelchairs or walkers also are welcome.

100+ Women Who Care of Will County is designed to make an immediate and positive impact. Members are interested in supporting their communities by contributing to local charities as a group.

At each of the group's quarterly meetings, members nominate charities and three are chosen at random. After a brief presentation, the members vote on which charity to support.

Once the winning charity is announced, everyone writes a $100 check directly to that charity.

All nominated charities must be in, and serve, Will County and have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

For details, visit www.100wwc-will.org.