Cheerleading team is offering free taster sessions this month
AN AWARD-WINNING cheerleading team is looking to raise funds to improve its training facilities in Shepshed - with the view of one day having its own purpose-built facility.
Wildfire Cheer was formed in February 2016, starting out as a small recreational club in Shepshed, using school gym mats. Since then it has expanded to Loughborough and started entering competitions in 2017. It now has almost 100 members aged from four to 16 years across four recreational classes, and seven competitive teams who compete regionally and nationally.
One of those teams, Wildfire Blaze, scooped the Grand Champions title at the Cheer City Nationals competition held at the Morningside Arena in Leicester earli- er this year, where it also scooped a haul of other trophies.
Hannah Bottomley, Wildfire Cheer director and head coach, said: “At the moment most of our teams including Blaze train in a school sports hall.
“We have saved up to buy a few of our own mats and tumbling equipment but we are always looking for ways to raise money for more equipment.
“The club is a Community Interest Company which means any profits are reinvested back into the club, mostly on equipment after costs (competition costs, coaching, venue hire etc) are met.
“We compete against a lot of teams that have been running for many years, some who train in their own fully kitted out cheerleading gyms (similar to a gymnastics gym).
“This is our eventual goal when we save up enough money or get funding to be able to do this. In the more immediate future we want to progress further and are creating a level 2 team. As the levels go up the stunts, pyramids and tumbling skills allowed are much more difficult (handsprings, flicks, back tucks etc) and we are raising money to get more equipment and mats to allow us to train these skills safely and effectively.
“In 2017 we received a grant of £400 from Charnwood Borough Council’s Sports Facilities grant which was really helpful in getting us new mats.”
The cheerleading group is having a summer break now but will be taking new members to all teams in August and September.
Hannah added: “There is no experience necessary and we have a place for everyone (boys and girls) aged four to 18.
“We have classes in Loughborough and Shepshed. Our competition teams are mostly in Shepshed but our oldest team (age 12+) trains in Loughborough. We have some free taster sessions for all ages between August 20-23 so come and give it a go!
“We also have our team placements (informal trials) for those interested in competing the following week (August 28-31). No experience is necessary and over half of our members who competed this season only started cheerleading last September.”
To book a place on a taster session or for more information, email Hannah on Hannah@wildfirecheer.com. or visit the website www.wildfirecheer.com and the Facebook page ‘Wildfire Cheer’.