Three WHHS cheerleaders have been offered a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to travel to London to take part in the city’s New Year’s Eve parade.
Three 16-year-old cheerleaders, Erica Jennings, Kelly Farmer and Brooklynn Williams, all juniors at Wade Hampton High School, have been selected for eligibility to attend a special event on Dec. 26, in London, England, on behalf of the cheerleading organization Universal Cheerleading Association.
An honor for the girls, these WHHS cheerleaders will represent Hampton County in London during the city’s New Year’s Eve parade. It was a nationwide pool of talent that the three girls were selected from. Although the opportunity is a great honor and will present a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for the small town South Carolina girls to expand their horizons and travel to a foreign country, the trip will be quit costly of the families involved.
The families of the girls are seeking financial support from the Hampton County community to allow the deserving students the opportunity attend the event. Each girl has had an account opened on their behalf for interested individuals who wish to donate money to support the girls and their families.
You can donate money to Brooklynn Williams at the Regions Bank, in Hampton, in her name. You may also donate money in the name of Erica Jennings at BB&T Bank, in Hampton. To donate money for Kelly Farmer’s trip, specify at the Palmetto State Bank that you would like to donate money to the “Kelly Farmer Cheer in London” account.
All three girls are also very involved in their churches and donations may also be made via these churches, as well. Jennings attends the Greater Cherry Grove Christian Church; Farmer attends Greater Faith Baptist Church and Williams attends Samaritan Missionary Baptist Church.
“I can’t wait to go and meet new people [while in London],” said Williams. All of the girls are excited for the upcoming trip and the opportunity to represent the community on a global scale.
“I have to put it out of my mind sometimes to keep from being so excited,” said Farmer. “Over the summer, it was all I could focus on,” she said with a smile.
“It’s really an honor to get this opportunity,” said Jennings, who along with Williams and Farmer agreed that District 1 has been a supportive school district and is proud of their student athletes and their extracurricular endeavors.
The ladies were introduced to the Universal Cheerleading Association during a summer program offered at WHHS for cheerleaders. Two local college cheerleaders traveled to Varnville and instructed the girls on new and advanced cheerleading techniques. All three girls stated that they enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the more experienced college cheerleaders and that they learned a great deal from the women.
The proud parents of the girls wish to thank the community for supporting their daughters. It will be difficult for the families to afford to travel with their children, but they believe whole heartedly that, with the Lord’s graces, the families will be able to afford to travel with their daughters to London.