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8 | April 6, 2017 | The New Lenox Patriot NEWS newlenoxpatriot.com Special needs squad makes cheerleading dreams come true GTIL Hearts headed to Orlando for Worlds competition Erin Redmond, Assistant Editor Growing up, Ashlee East repeatedly watched her sister, Kaylee, jump, stunt and tumble on one of cheerleading’s biggest stages: The Cheerleading Worlds Championship. Kaylee, a lifelong and talented cheerleader, competed at Worlds 10 times over the course of her career and during each routine Ashlee would watch, dreaming one day she’d be there, too. But having been born with cerebral palsy, performing at Worlds seemed to be just that: a dream. But not anymore. Ashlee and her special abilities squad, the Lockport-based GymTyme Illinois Hearts, have earned a coveted bid to Worlds, held April 29-May 1 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Kaylee will be there, too, but this time she’ll be the one watching in her role as the team’s coach. “[Ashlee] would always say ‘one day I’m going to get on that stage; one day I’m going to get on that stage,’” her mother Tracy said. “It’s kind of cool that this is the first time Ashlee gets to do it and Kaylee’s not doing it.” The trip is made possible thanks to a slew of donations the team has received, most recently a $2,500 check from the 100+ Women Who Care of Will County given on March 16. So far, the Hearts have received around $10,000, which covers almost all their competition fees, travel to Florida and their tickets to Disney World. “It’s basically being able to send the whole team without anybody having to pay for anything, which is really cool,” Kaylee said. “We didn’t expect to get that amount of donations, but as of right now we’re able to send everybody.” As one of only three special abilities squads competing, the Hearts are among an exclusive class of cheerleaders. And Tracy said Kaylee deserves all the credit for that. The New Lenox native has been cheering since second grade. She began with the New Lenox Mustangs, which Tracy is a coordinator of, did All-Star cheer, and proudly sported red and white as a Knights cheerleader at Lincoln- Way Central. She went on to cheer for Purdue University and even went pro, spending three years in the NFL as an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader. Kaylee’s wealth of experience and her role as a special education teacher at Arcadia Elementary School in Olympia Fields has helped her take the Hearts to new heights. The team’s eight athletes have a range of special needs including cerebral palsy, deafness and autism, but their coach hasn’t let their disabilities turn into limitations. “[I like] seeing how much they’re capable of learning over time and the friendships that you build with them,” Kaylee said. “For instance children with autism aren’t normally social, but getting them to overcome those certain aspects of their disabilities and then having people step on them and lifting other people up, those aren’t normal interactions for these kids.” And not only does it help the athletes transcend their comfort zones, cheerleading has done wonders for their New Lenox natives (left to right) Ashlee and Kaylee East cheer and coach, respectively, for the GymTyme Hearts special abilities squad in Lockport. Photos Submitted physical health, too. Ashlee attended physical therapy since she was a newborn until her senior year of high school. But cheering, her mother said, has done more for her than all that time in therapy ever did. “I think this is 100 percent better,” Tracy said. “They have to condition, they do stunts, tumbling all this stuff. ... This has really helped her a lot.” Kaylee said she coaches the Hearts the same way she would any other squad. That can be tough at times for her 28-year-old sister, who fills her parents in on the difficult stunts and routines her sister makes her and her squad perform. But she wouldn’t have it any other way. The Lockport-based GymTyme Hearts special abilities cheerleading squad will compete in The Cheerleading Worlds Championship April 29-May 1 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. “[Ashlee] loves it,” Tracy said. “She loves the challenges of mastering stuff that people say she can’t do.” Donations to help the fund the Hearts’ trip to the Worlds meet can be sent to the GymTyme Illinois Boosters, 1445 Canton Farm Road, Lockport, IL, 60441. Donors should write “Hearts” in the memo line.
newlenoxpatriot.com NEWS the New Lenox Patriot | April 6, 2017 | 9 Spring Gala to celebrate Harry Potter book’s 20th anniversary James Sanchez, Editor The Friends of the Library’s annual Spring Gala and Fundraiser hit a stroke of bad luck last year. It was the first year running under a new name after it was named the Spring Arts Festival the first seven years. Everything looked to be order and ready to go until a month before the event when plans had to change fast. Complications with a liquor license forced the adultonly event from the New Lenox Public Library to a smaller space at Village Hall. “The problem with the transitioning wasn’t so much of moving everything we needed to Village Hall, it was actually mapping out how we would set it up,” said Susan O’Donnell, president of the Friends of the New Lenox Library. O’Donnell said she was “pleasantly surprised” on the turnout of the event, despite the misfortunes. But now this year’s event – which is scheduled to take place 7-11 p.m. Saturday, April 8 – is back at the library. “I am just so thrilled that we are at the library because this is where it really belongs,” O’Donnell said. The second floor of the library will be draped in Harry Potter-themed decorations to play along with the theme, celebrating the 20th year of the book release of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” The theme changes every year – from the entertainment to the customized martini. Last year was dedicated to Shakespeare. In the past, they celebrated the roaring 20s. The theme varies, but the goal remains the same – to benefit the local library. Last year’s event raised approximately $4,500. O’Donnell aims to improve on that mark. “Any money that we make off this fundraiser on [April 8], every bit of it goes to the library,” O’Donnell said. “We write a big check. We wanted to have a fundraiser to help the library with items or bills, perhaps, that they couldn’t fit into their budget. “[This year] the money will go toward programming towards children, teens and adults. It’s also used to fill their print, audio and digital collection, and lastly add new equipment for the digital media lab.” The digital media lab will be incorporated in the event as a photo booth for the night. Also included will be about 60-70 silent auction items and an additional 25 raffle items. Featured items are autographed sports memorabilia from the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls. Also included will be the annual cork pull – which is a wine raffle where participants pull a numbered cork and take home the matching numbered wine bottle. “It’s kind of fun because it gives them a chance to maybe try a brand that they never would have in the first place,” O’Donnell said. “All of that wine is also donated by The Wine Cellar in Joliet.” The Wine Cellar is just one of more than 75 donors for the event. The hope is for residents to continue to be part of the cause and help the Spring Gala continue to flourish year in, year out, to the library’s benefit, O’Donnell said. “They do everything they can to make this a welcoming place,” she said. “They provide the books that people are wanting to read, the movies, Help your customers as well. For those patrons that really enjoy the library, this is just a small way to give back to the them.” DON’T WAIT RESERVE YOUR POLITICAL ADS NOW! into action this season. ® Be smart. Advertise in The New Lenox Patriot Contact Lora Healy Ninth Annual Spring Gala and Fundraiser When: 7-11 p.m. Saturday, April 8 Where: New Lenox Public Library, 120 Veterans Parkway in New Lenox Tickets: (Adults only) $30 in advance, $40 at the door for adults; $25 for senior citizens For more information … Visit the Friends of the New Lenox Library Facebook page 708.326.9170 ext. 31 l.healy@22ndcenturymedia.com Broker - Management Team “10” 22ND CENTURY MEDIA AND PLANET FITNESS PRESENT VENDORS WANTED O<strong>NL</strong>Y 15 BOOTHS LEFT! 9am - 1pm Saturday, April 29 Tinley Park Convention Center Vendors needed for shopping, fashion, beauty, health, food, home decor and more! DEADLINE: APRIL 13, 2017 For more information, call (708) 32608170 or visit www.22ndcenturymedia.com/lady ...to place your Classified Ad! 708.326.9170
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