Cheer clinic benefits Sunrise Mountain parent with Lou Gehrig's disease

Sunrise Mountain JV and Varsity Cheer Squads will have a cheer clinic at the school from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at 21200 N. 83^rd Avenue in Peoria. The proceeds will benefit a cheer parent who is suffering from ALS disease.

The clinic costs $15 per participant and focuses on teaching cheers, dances and jumps. It is designed for beginners or more advanced girls. 

"What a great way to help out a cheer parent who is suffering with such a debilitating disease and work with the younger girls in our community to teach them about cheerleading," said Whitney Vining, Varsity cheer coach at Sunrise Mountain. "These squads are award-winning, and we have so much to offer. It is fun to help spread the talent and make a difference in someone's life."

Every 90 minutes a person in the United States is diagnosed with ALS, and every 90 minutes another person will lose the battle against the disease. Often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs patients of their ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. Caring for a loved one with ALS costs on average of $200,000 each year. Cheer parent Jeff Kuennen was diagnosed with the disease in 2007. More information on him can be found at www.jeffkuennen.com. 

Walk-ins are welcome the day of the clinic as long as the proper forms are completed and there is availability. Registration for the clinic is to be made in advance by calling or e-mailing Kris Friedman at 623-203-8036 or frebie7@aol.com.