To the Editor:
This week is definitely a time for thankfulness, and I cannot express my appreciation more to Bayonne Elite Cheer for welcoming the special needs community into their home gym for the first ever Special Needs Cheer Clinic! Everyone involved was amazing. Thank you to the Directors: Carla, Chelsea and Andrea; thank you to the Cheer moms who assisted: Jenny S., Geri, Angie and especially Jenn Schaefer-Cotto who co-planned the event with me; and to team Onyx and team Diamonds.
I think both sides got something very special out of the day. As I looked around the room, everyone had huge smiles. All I have heard from the participants’ parents is how amazing the cheerleaders were with “our” kids.
Bayonne Elite are not only wonderful and talented but these volunteers effortlessly switched back and forth to what the child with special needs wanted to do. That is just something that cannot be taught; it was innate and pretty magical.
I also want to thank our Bayonne Community Sponsors: Tony’s Car Clinic, Titan Tactical Gear & the Bayonne Elks Lodge 434 and to the Perry family and the Mason family. These sponsors made it possible for the participants to have t-shirts, pom poms, Cheer sticks, temporary tattoos, snacks and drinks. Bayonne Elite Cheer graciously requested that monetary donations raised go to Bayonne’s Department of Recreation. Thank you everyone.
ELISHA DeMARIA
Gabriel’s Mom