Colonie Pop Warner 'Angels' to perform in nation's capitol Tuesday ...

By Danielle Sanzone
dsanzone@troyrecord.com
Twitter.com/DanielleSanzone

Members of the Colonie Pop Warner ?Angels? cheerleading squad will be participating in the President?s Council of Fitness, Sports and Nutrition on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. (Photo provided)

COLONIE ? A Pop Warner cheerleading squad was chosen to participate in the President?s Council of Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. This coming Tuesday, the team, composed of area youths with disabilities, will perform a routine and give input on how students with disabilities can participate in more team sports.

The team, called the Angels, is made up of 14 members including a dozen girls and two boys. Of them, 13 are planning to attend.

Their coach and president of the Colonie Pop Warner organization, Martha Vadney, said that a member of President Barack Obama?s staff extended an invitation to the group, called a Challenger cheer squad since the members have various disabilities like autism, developmental disabilities, mental health disabilities, and muscular dystrophy. The members are from around the Capital District, with cheerleaders from Colonie, Troy, and Albany.

?Kids without disabilities get a lot of ?shining moments?, whether it?s going to prom or scoring a touchdown at a football game,? said Vadney. ?Kids with disabilities do not always get those moments.?

The group was able to raise about $11,000 in nine days which will cover their basic expenses. Any additional donations, Vadney said, will go toward the Moonlit Tour of the Capital?s Monuments.

?Due to medical bills and other expenses, these families do not usually have a lot of money. We are so lucky to have found angels for our Angels,? said Vadney of the myriad of donors and sponsors including Coccadotts, Rosewood Builders, Luizzi Brothers Construction, and Schupp Line Construction.

On top of this, finding a handicap accessible bus was an issue until they eventually found Yankee Trails, she said.

The group, with about 78 people including helpers, coaches and family, leaves Sunday morning for D.C. with plans to sightsee Monday and attend the council meeting on Tuesday where 15-year-old Briana Parker of Colonie will participate in a round-table discussion about fitness.

?We?re very excited and honored,? said her mother.

Vadney is not entirely clear about how they were chosen to be at the event but she and her team are grateful. Continued...

?We?re turning this into one fabulous moment for them,? she said.

Three-time Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes is a co-chair of the 16-member council which also includes Olympic skating medalist Michelle Kwan and Super Bowl champion Drew Brees.

Despite the who?s who list of members on the council, the 13 members of the team making the trek down hope to see one other ?celebrity.?

Vadney said, ?They really want to see the president?s dog.?

For more information about joining the Angels or making a donation: http://coloniepopwarner.org

Danielle Sanzone may be?reached at 270-1292.

Source: http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2013/05/04/news/doc5184b387764c9900249049.txt

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