VHS Cheerleaders Support Minette’s Angels

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Most people associate the month of October with Halloween, but for cheerleaders in Verona, the month of October is all about Breast Cancer Awareness.

On October 28, the high school cheer team put on their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Showcase, which benefits the Minette’s Angels Foundation.  The event took place at Verona High School, on the football field. Many Verona residents came out, despite the weather conditions, to support the cheerleaders and the Minette’s Angels foundation. 

This foundation was started when Verona resident, Minette Grosso McKenna, lost her ten-year battle with breast cancer. The goal of this organization is to support patients going through treatment for breast cancer, and to support research for the disease. They also give scholarships to students who will be attending Seton Hall University’s School of Nursing to honor Minette’s memory, as she too was a nurse. Board Vice President Michelle Kiernan was on hand at the showcase to highlight some of the important work the foundation does, such as provide transportation and meals to patients and their families, as well as provide free mammograms to the uninsured and underinsured. The Breast Cancer Awareness Showcase was especially important this year because, due to the pandemic, fundraising for organizations such as Minette’s Angels have decreased. 

This showcase has been an annual event for Verona cheerleaders for about seven years. With performances from the Verona High School Cheer Team, Eagles Cheer Teams, and Verona Competitive Cheer Teams, it is an exciting event for all involved. All the teams performed their routines and the high school cheer team ended the night by performing their half-time routine. It was a great opportunity for the teams to show off all the hard work they have been putting in, during this particularly challenging season. 

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, the event was a little bit different than most years. The event was held outside of the high school, on Sellitto Field, instead of the gym. Cheer teams were spread out on the football field, socially distant, and when not performing everyone was required to wear masks. The crowd was also required to wear masks and be as socially distant as possible in the bleachers. Regardless of all the changes that had to be made this year, the showcase was as lively as ever. Not only was this a great event, but it also raised money for a good cause.  As Mrs. Kiernan noted, breast cancer does not stop because of the pandemic, so fundraising and support for patients and their families must continue. In the end, this showcase raised about $2,000 for the Minette’s Angels Foundation.