Empire Elite Cheerleading Club in Spalding look forward to representing the UK at a championship in Florida
A group of girls cried with excitement after being told they will travel to America, to represent the UK in a cheerleading championship.
The Empire Elite AllStars club, in Spalding, is currently preparing 15 girls from the level one ‘Rebels’ team to take part in the Prep and Rec Grand Nationals Championship - which is set to take place at a venue in Florida next year.
After securing first place in their division at a competition in Coventry in May, the group of girls aged seven to nine years old, are currently putting in the work for the big event in April next year.
Nikita Capes, who is head cheerleading coach, said: “When we got the news we were shocked – a lot of the girls cried when we told them.
“Last season we had a bid (invitation) due to having the highest score across the weekend at the event in Coventry, and it will be Empire Elites first one, so we are feeling excited.
“The girls have taken it in their stride. We’ve put training plans in place to match the standard they will be competing against and when we are there and we will be representing the UK.
“As a coach, I feel super proud and it was a shock for us to receive the bid, so we have all just got to do our best. As long as we can say we have done the best for them as their coaches, then we’re proud of the outcome no matter what.”
The team has been fundraising for the trip and have already raised £8,000, which will go towards a gym hire in America, mini bus, the kits and more.
Nikita added: “The overall cost of the trip is £21,000. Fundraising is going really well and parents have come together as a team to make sure we have done as much as we can.
“We would love to have raised enough to cover the cost of the whole trip but we are just trying to raise as much as we can to cover the costs for everyone. We will continue to raise until March next year before we head out.”
You can contact the club via its website www.empireeliteallstars.co.uk
