Sat Jul 31 2010
The Kent Roosevelt High School cheerleaders spend many of their nights cheering on their respective athletic teams.
This may mean braving the cold, wind and rain during football season or trying to be the loudest inside an already noisy basketball gymnasium.
After they embraced this holiday season in a new way, gaining an unparalleled feeling, it is time they receive some of the cheering and applauding.
Choosing to put others before themselves, the school’s cheer team spent an afternoon at the Kent Health Care Center Nursing Home and Hudson’s Laurel Lakes Nursing Home.
The Riders began their visit by performing their annual holiday dance, then they sang Christmas carols, visited residents and helped prepare for the day’s bingo game.
“It was definitely rewarding,” Kent Roosevelt senior Erin McClafferty said. “I personally did not want to leave after seeing how much happiness we brought to all of the people.
“When we were walking out the door, one woman asked nicely, ‘Please sing another one,’ so we all stopped and started singing another carol. I think we all knew we were touching these peoples’ hearts.”
The day had a profound impact on all of the cheerleaders, leaving their coach glowing.
“My girls did a wonderful job, I was so proud and impressed by the compassion they showed,” Kent Roosevelt cheerleading coach Renee Manning said.
Although the afternoon was not made mandatory by Manning, all but three of the Rough Rider cheerleaders participated. Manning said the three that were unable to attend were disappointed, but prior obligations kept them from participating.
Those girls may get their chance, though, because after so many of the cheerleaders enjoyed the visit, Manning said she had multiple girls ask if they could turn the visit into a monthly occasion.
“I know the experience really touched their hearts because the same look I witnessed in the eyes of the residents, I saw in the eyes of my young ladies. It was a good feeling all around,” Manning said.
“It is truly incredible that something so simple could make such an impact,” Manning said. “It is definitely a life lesson. I was very proud of them. We left smiling, shed a few tears and the girls felt good about themselves because they knew they were just a part of something good.”
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Tom Nader can be contacted at tnader@recordpub.com
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1 Total Comments
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Posted by Gary January 5, 2010
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Oh how wonderful of these girls and their coach. Their lives have been enriched by their coach and by all the residents of the nursing homes. Yes, girls try to go every month!!!
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