Cheerleaders join fight against breast cancer

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Even though the pandemic has pushed a group of young cheerleaders off the sidelines this year, it hasn’t stopped them from cheering on their local community. 

Recently, the Rostraver Cheer Squad, made up of 23 fifth- and sixth-grade girls who attend Marion and Rostraver elementary schools in the Belle Vernon Area School District, stepped up in a big way to help their community during breast cancer awareness month.

Coach Chelsey Beere said the cheerleaders’ 2020 season was canceled because of COVID-19, but it has not stopped them from cheering on those who are fighting one of life’s toughest battles.

“Being that this is our sixth-graders’ senior year of recreation cheer, I thought it was important to try to salvage whatever I could of this season and take it in a different direction,” Beere said. 

With support from parents and community members, their season took a charity-driven approach.

“Our kids have had so many things taken from them and no normalcy, so I felt it was important to create as many opportunities for them as possible to be able to gather as a team,” Beere said. “A majority of our activities have involved the girls giving back to the community, such as collecting nonperishable food items and volunteering at The Bag Brigade in Belle Vernon.”

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