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Rack Law helps cheer team toward goal

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

After battling their way through a pandemic and several injuries, the girls on the Activstars Yavapai Pro Cheer team won a bid to compete in the National Youth Activities Association National Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the �irst time in six years.

However, that was where the challenge set in for these young girls as the team calculated it would cost them $1,000 a person just to �ly to South Carolina, stay in a hotel and pay their registration fees.

Undeterred by the staggering bill, the girls rolled up their sleeves and began to chip away at the $17,000 bill to send the entire team and its coach, Lauren Alli-Presley, to the National Championship by hosting car washes almost every weekend and a “rummage sale” where the team sold discarded clothing, collectibles, electronics and lots of shoes.

The team relished the opportunity to spend more time together.

“We really get to work together,” said 15-year-old Samantha Watson. “Some of us are like on the like corners of the streets with signs like yelling while some of us are washing cars.”

It has also provided them with memories that will last a lifetime.

“Doing the fundraising has brought us a lot closer as a team and I think the memories we made during these fundraisers are probably some of my favorites,” said Haily Hereau, 14.

Even as some girls reached their goal of $1,000, they continued to show up week after week at fundraisers to aid their teammates.

“The goal was always them. That’s the thing with them, It’s not how much do I want, It’s how much do I need for my entire team,” said Alli-Presley. “They really do not want to leave a single kid behind.”

As the girls continued to tumble through Tuesday practices at Tonalea K-8 school and twirl around South Scottsdale hosting weekend car washes the team caught the attention of SUSD Governing Board candidate Andrea Keck.

Keck had read a post on the SUSD Coronado Learning Community Facebook page about one of the girl’s various fundraisers in February and decided to stop by.

She was amazed at their work ethic and when she got back into her shining, spotless vehicle, Keck knew she had to �ind a way to help these girls.

“I was just amazed at how much sweat equity these girls have put into this project,” Keck said. “I said to myself, I have to do something to help these girls get to their goal!”

Keck was conversing with her neighbor Ashley Kish about how marveled she was by these young girls’ hard work and asked Kish if she knew of anyone who would possibly be willing to contribute to their cause.

Kish reached out to Anthony Rack, an attorney at Rack Law Group, for help.

“It’s really impressive what these young girls have accomplished so far, and what they’re trying to achieve,” Rack said. “The goals and determination are something that a lot of our youth today don’t have, so that was something that really impressed us and we wanted to be part of it.”

Since the girls had already raised $13,000 of their $17,000 goal, Rack cut a check to Activstars Yavapai Pro Cheer for $5,000 to ensure that each kid made it to Myrtle Beach.

It was in that same gymnasium at Tonalea K-8 School on May 17 where the girls let out possibly their loudest cheer of the season when Kish and Keck presented Alli-Presley with the check.

“It was a lot to take in when we got that $5,000 check because then that means that our dream was like �inally coming true,” said 11-year-old Lacie Dougall. “We’re �inally going to be able to go to Nationals and we’re going to actually have the money to go.”

It also served as a reminder of a lesson that the team had been taught all season.

“I’m so grateful that they helped us,” said 13-year-old Taylor Geffert. “Coach always tells us that there are so many people that are on our team, even if we don’t like generally know them and hearing that made me believe like there are people that.” “I don’t think (Rack Law Group) realizes how much it means to these kids because this is going to be the deciding factor for our last couple of weeks to get hotels, �lights and making sure everybody makes it,” Alli-Presley said.

Although the check ensured that the girls would have enough funds to make the trek out to the south and have a place to stay, there are remaining funds and the rising cost of hotel rooms and �lights is not helping the team.

Because of this, the girls are going to spend the weekends leading up to the July 17-18 competitions continuing to raise funds for their remaining expenses – like purchasing professionally composed music, uniforms and money to go dolphin watching.

However, the team remains united in the goal.

“We’re really hoping for a win and to have a great experience,” Alli-Presley said. “Some of these girls have never seen the east coast before or even been on a plane so it’s going to be a de�inite game-changer for some of them.”

Activstars Yavapai Pro Cheer team that has spent every weekend this year washing cars and doing other activities to raise funds to attend the National Youth Activities Association National Championship in Myrtle Beach in July received a $5,000 check from Rack

Law Group on Tuesday May 14. (Alex Gallagher/ Progress Staff Photographer)