AUSTIN, Texas — It's cheer competition season, and one Round Rock team that spends its time helping others now needs your help getting to nationals.
The girls at Round Rock Youth Elite Cheer are flipping into the new year intending to raise $75,000 to get 50 girls to nationals in Orlando in May.
"We're hoping that each girl is able to get their flight, their hotel and Disney tickets and all of the event fun paid for," CEO Martha Gross said.
Gross started the nonprofit program to help make the historically expensive sport more affordable.
"Uniforms at an all-star level can range anywhere between $500 to $600 for all that sparkling glam," Gross said. "It has a high price tag. The community needs something where all girls in the community could feel welcome."
Gross said she made sure her program cost half the price while offering scholarships. The program is more than practicing three days a week. The athletes also do community work, like volunteering for the Coats for Kids drive in the winter – something 9-year-old Jayla enjoys.
"I like hanging their jackets up and, like, trying to find, like, the right color for them," Jayla said. "That's the fun part."
While Gross teaches them to lend a helping hand to others, these young girls also have some grit.
"Yeah, so don't mess with me," Jayla said.
Gross said many of their girls go on to cheer at Round Rock, Hutto and Pflugerville middle schools.
"It gives them an opportunity to be just a little more experienced before they go into the middle school," Gross said.
If you would like to help the girls head to Florida, you can donate through their GoFundMe.