TWO NEWSOME STUDENTS START CHEER TEAM FOR PEERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

By Makenzie Atkins Noel

society again,” said Jared, the face and ‘legs’ of O My Lawn, “and truthfully, give myself a purpose while being a provider for my now family.”

Serving the Wimauma, Brandon and Riverview areas, O My Lawn is the newest lawn care business in the community. With a focus on restoration and monthly lawn care, O My Lawn provides mowing, weed eating, leaf blowing, edging, hedge and tree trimming, weed control, pressure washing services and more.

Both Taylor and Jared were born and raised in the Ruskin/ Wimauma area. The Ramellas enjoy being able to help community members in the area.

From needing others to help him to being able to help others, Jared has pushed through with Taylor by his side and can now continue working on his passion. For more information or to hire O My Lawn LLC, please contact Taylor at omylawnllc@gmail.com.

The FishHawk Wolfpack Cheer Team is starting a challenger team for athletes with special needs that want to take part in their cheer program.

Callie Hancock, a junior student at Newsome High School and member of the Wolfpack Cheer Team, started the challenger team to create an inclusive and fun opportunity for her peers with special needs.

“Junior Alyssa Gardner and I were both Wolfpack cheerleaders when we were younger. … We wanted to give kids of diferent abilities an opportunity to make memories like us,” explained Callie.

The team will ofer a way for athletes with special needs to stay active and engaged with their friends while being supported by their coaches and teammates. Callie was inspired by her younger sister, Leyton, who has cerebral palsy, to create a team to reach FishHawk kids with special needs.

“She is my biggest inspiration and I have seen everything she has been through. As she has gotten older, it has been harder and harder for her to participate in younger kid activities. This program allows her and other special needs

By Lily Belcher

kids in our community to participate in ways that they normally cannot,” said Callie.

The co-ed team will start on Tuesday, August 1, with practices on Monday nights. Callie is hoping to have around 10 athletes on the cheer squad in their inaugural season. Students between 5-18 years old can register online for $150, which includes a practice set, uniform and bow. Callie and Gardner will coach the team, using their experience with the Wolfpack Cheer Team to guide their new cheerleaders.

“I was not surprised at all. Callie is the hardest working, motivated and driven teenager I know. She has always been the absolute best big sister to Leyton,” said Callie’s mother, Malinda Hancock. “… Callie and Alyssa will be the most amazing coaches.”

The Wolfpack Cheer Team are six-time national champions in their 17th year in the FishHawk community. The recreational cheer program is located of FishHawk Boulevard in Lithia.

For more information, visit www.fishhawkwolfpack.com or contact fhwolfpackcheercoordinator@gmail.com.