Go Green team Cheerleaders root for the Earth
GROVE CITY — The Go Green Cheerleaders have a team everyone can root for — Earth.
Formed by Heather Blanchard of Grove City, whose daughter is a member of the squad, the cheerleaders want to spread awareness and work for a good cause while having fun.
"We started it just as a fun thing to give the girls another place to cheer other than the Little Eagles organization here in town," Blanchard said.
"We were all parents who had children cheering there for the youth football league. We got to talking and wanted to do something else for the girls for the offseason and just something that was fun."
The squad's first performance was at the Strawberry Days talent show in June, where the Grove City Chamber of Commerce asked the group to have a float in last week's Olde Town American Festival. The Go Green Cheerleaders won first place for their float, from which they also cheered, "Reduce, reuse, recycle!" and "Give a hoot, don't pollute!"
"All of the parents and children seemed to like it so much we decided to stay together and look for other things to do serving the community and spreading awareness," Blanchard said.
The girls chose the planet as their team after studying at Hillview Elementary School about global warming and the threat climate change poses to polar bears.
"We needed something to cheer for and all of the children seemed to be pretty excited about helping to save the planet, mainly the polar bears," Blanchard said. "To these little girls that is what it means to them."
A paper polar bear made from recycled products holds a replica of the Earth and joins the squad on its excursions. The 11-year-olds, who are all headed to sixth grade, wear green skirts and white shirts with the recycling symbol on the front. Some pull their hair back with bright green hair ties.
Melissa Crothers of Grove City, whose daughter is a member of the squad, said the group allows her daughter to have fun while learning about an important cause.
"The organization has helped enforce their awareness about how important it is to save the planet and recycle, and even my youngest will tell me to throw things in the recycle bin," Crothers said. "They are never too young to learn it."
Chelsie Semple, an assistant coach for the Go Green Cheerleaders, said it gives the girls a chance to have some fun.
"When I grew up, it was all competition based," Semple said. "Here, they can relax, have fun and be who they want to be."
Blanchard said she always wants the squad to be aware of what is going on with the planet and that cheering can be both fun and rewarding.
"That's the reason why I decided to do it," Blanchard said. "It's fun for them. I would like for them to get involved in the community and set a good example."
Brigit Blanchard, 11, who is Heather's daughter, said she enjoys being a member of the Go Green squad.
"We work to stop pollution, and I get to be with my friends," she said. "It's for a good cause."
This fall, the group may cheer at Grove City College and also may register with the Disney Channel, which is doing a go green promotion asking children to send in their thoughts on the environment and what they are doing to help save the planet.
"I hope it inspires other people to do the same thing in their communities," Blanchard said.
