A GROUP of cheer athletes from an academy in Basingstoke are seeking support from the community as they prepare to travel to the United States next month to compete at the world championships.

Two All-Star teams from Basingstoke Wolverines Cheer Academy, based in Armstrong Road, will travel to Florida to compete in international cheer competitions in April.

A Level One team named Weapon X of 20 athletes aged between 11 and 16 have been invited to compete at the International Summit 2023.

A Level Five team named Lady X of 19 athletes aged between 14 and 28 have been invited to compete at the World Championships 2023.

It is the largest international competition and brings together top clubs from more than 40 countries.

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Both teams are currently training multiple nights a week and are working hard to make sure they can put together the best routines possible.

Head coach Kayleigh Fennell said the teams are very proud to be representing Basingstoke and the UK Cheerleading community on the world stage.

She continued: “We have worked very hard to get to this level and get the team to the world championship. It’s a bid-only event, and we managed to get our bid in the second competition of the season last year.

“We’re very excited and the athletes are really stepping up to the opportunity by surpassing what we were hoping to do.”

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For most athletes, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, due to the cost of the trip.

The entry fee is around £460 for each athlete. The total trip cost for each athlete would be around £1,700.

Each athlete has to fund the trip themselves as no funding is given with the bids.

Being a not-for-profit charity, Basingstoke Wolverines Cheer Academy is seeking help from the community to support its endeavour.

The teams have already carried out a number of fundraising activities over the past six months including family fun days, car washes, raffles, movie nights and sponsored walks, but they are still looking for further helps to sponsor their journey.

If you would like to support the Weapon X team, visit gofundme.com/f/help-weapon-x-get-to-florida-to-compete-summit.

If you would like to support the Lady X team, visit gofundme.com/f/help-lady-x-get-to-the-world-championship.