Six-year-old Eleanor Dolata is a cheerleader, and on Sunday afternoons the Oxford first grader practices with her Pride of Trilogy fellow cheerleaders. They work on somersaults, pyramids and other activities.
‘I get to see my friends and see people who are like me,? said Eleanor.
Indeed, Eleanor is a very special cheerleader. She was born with Spina Bifida, which, according to the Spina Bifida Association, is the most common permanently-disabling birth defect in America. This disorder occurs when a baby’s spine doesn’t close during the first months of gestation. There is no known cure.
Among the other cheerleaders in her group are those with cerebral palsy (such as her best friend in the group, Shannon), blindness, deafness, Down Syndrome and other physical and mental ailments.
‘They all get a long really well,? said Eleanor’s mother, Emily Dolata. ‘They invite each other to their birthday parties.?
When the cheerleaders perform, they each have a volunteer helper who assists them with somersaults, pyramids and other moves that require assistance.
The cheerleading group’s full name is the Special Needs All Star Cheer Team–Pride of Trilogy. Founded by Cheerleading Training Center’s Steve and Angela Goralski in 2007, the goal of the Shelby Township program is to promote special-needs athletes and encourage them to try new things, learn life skills from teamwork and have fun during the process. The group consists of about 21 girls ranging from six to 20 years old.
This May, the Pride of Trilogy will become the first-ever special-needs team to perform at the U.S. Finals of Cheerleading in Virginia Beach.
Cheerleading Training Center doesn’t charge tuition for the cheerleaders since they know the families have medical expenses to deal with. However, they are seeking donations for the program as well as to cover expenses for the season (uniforms and travel expenses for each athlete plus one parent), which cost more than $18,000.
?[This] brings out a lot of the best things in Eleanor,? Mrs. Dolata said. ‘She has a lot energy but sometimes has tendency to reserve herself. Because of her disability, she’s a little shy. This, hopefully, will make her a bit more outgoing. I think it’s a great opportunity for her to be like an average girl.?
She added: ‘It’s a great way for Eleanor to interact in a sport, and she’s just thrilled every time she goes to practice.?
Mrs. Dolata noted a few weeks ago Eleanor and her group participated at an event in Novi in front of a few thousand people.
‘It was just amazing to see their energy on the stage and everybody cheering for them,? she added.
Eleanor first began cheerleading this past summer after her mother read about it on the internet and learned they were taking on new girls for the group.
Besides school and cheerleading practice, Eleanor receives physical therapy for Spina Bifida. There, she works on walking. While she’ll need to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life, it’s something her mother says Eleanor is okay with.
‘If you’re born with it and grow up with it, you don’t know anything different,? Mrs. Dolata explained. ‘If it happened to us or if we had an accident and went in wheelchair, it would be traumatic since we’re not used to it. She doesn’t know any different. She’s happy but doesn’t like the walking in physical therapy since it’s a lot of work.?
The Spina Bifida Association’s website is at www.spinabifidaassociation.org.
The All Star Trilogy’s website is at www.allstartrilogy.com. Their number is 586-532-4171.