Over the summer, 51 OHS cheerleaders attended the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) cheer camp. While there, the girls wrote letters to family and friends asking for financial support for the Team Up for St. Jude campaign.

From the donations over the summer and now, OHS cheer is placed 13th in the nation and has raised over $2,000 in donations. The top 10 fundraising teams (three students, one coach) will be invited to the Team Up for St. Jude Spirited by Varsity Leadership Experience where they will tour St. Jude and perform at the pep rally in Memphis, Tennessee. The cheerleaders have been working for their goal by collecting money at basketball games and during lunches.

St. Jude uses donations to continue to provide free treatment to their patients so the parents do not have to worry about paying a hospital bill for their child’s care. The hospital also shares their cancer discoveries with other doctors and scientists to help save more lives. Since opening over 50 years ago, they have increased the childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent. St. Jude’s goal is to continue making discoveries so no child dies from cancer again.

“I think this is an amazing opportunity for the cheerleaders to show the community that when they come together, they can create an army of goodness,” cheer coach Becky Bruning said.

If you would like to contribute to the cause, you can donate by visiting the fundraising page by Feb. 1: http://tinyurl.com/hwe3j8q

The OHS cheer program thanks you for your support!