Cheerleading: Grace hopes for some favour

Grace Hegh is hoping to get some local support at a gala day at the old Mitsubishi car site on November 30 as she looks to realise a dream of competing in Las Vegas at the All Star Games. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Grace Hegh is an up-and-coming cheerleader with a lot of promise, but she needs Northland's help.

The Okaihau 11-year-old has been scouted by top American choreographer Luke Johnson and granted an exemption to compete at the All Star Games in Las Vegas in April. But, there is a cost attached.

Grace - who has been given the thumbs up by organisers after falling below the age barrier to qualify - needs to raise more than $10,000 for the trip, which will realise a dream albeit earlier than expected.

Her mother, Andrea, said the invitation to the US- which came at a competition last weekend - came as a welcome surprise, even if it did not come off due to a lack of funding.

"Organisers asked if they [could] talk to me, Grace's coach from Fantasy Toni Saunders, and Kristen [Steingruber] and said 'we want to qualify Grace for the All Star Games in America, and if she qualifies can she come?' And I said 'we'll try'," she said..

The pair are realistic about not being able to achieve the total, but hope Northland will get behind them at a gala day on November 30.

"Now it's a case of getting there," Andrea said before pausing to explain to Grace that they'll give it their best shot but may not make it.

"The nice man who has bought [the old Mitsubishi car-yard site] is donating the land to us for the day, Frings [Brauhaus] is helping out and has organised a band for the day."

Andrea says the day will run from 10am to 4pm and will include a monster garage sale, a fundraising auction, sausage sizzle, a barbecue, cake stall, cheerleading and hip-hop dance displays.

She said she was open to donations for the day's auction or cake stall, so to arrange logistics call her on 0274335051.

Grace has a Facebook page and if Northlanders would like to follow her on her quest just search for "Grace Hegh".

To donate money to Grace, her account number is 06-0977-0800220-00.

For Grace at this exciting time, her biggest concern is how to balance time hanging out with all her friends.

"Hanging out with all of them [is hard]," Grace said.

"Because they want to hang out with you but sometimes you just want to hang out with your friends. But at least you make more friends, it's good to make more friends."