A talented group of young athletes from North Brisbane is preparing to represent Australia on the world cheerleading stage, with Sandgate District State High School student Ella Garland proudly among their ranks.
Ella, who has been cheerleading for four years, is a member of the Army Brats team at CheerFX, a cheerleading club based in Deception Bay. The Under-16 All-Girl Team is heading to the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) competition in Houston, Texas, this year.
Ella’s mother, Jo, said the NCA competition was one of the largest cheerleading events globally, attracting over 25,000 athletes and 38,000 spectators.
“Ella will also spend five days training at one of the best gyms in America, Woodlands Elite,” Jo said.
The Army Brats have consistently performed well at competitions across Australia. Recently, Ella and her teammates claimed the gold medal at the Australian National Championships in Sydney, winning the Senior All Girls Level 2 division and earning the title of National Champions for 2025.
Ella trains four times a week at CheerFX, where she has honed her skills and helped her team achieve top rankings.
Fundraising to Make the Journey Possible
However, Jo said the journey to Houston comes with significant expenses.
“The costs of travel, training, uniforms, and competition entry amounts to a bucket of money, so any support big or small will be so appreciated so Ella can get to experience this amazing international opportunity,” she said.
A fundraising page has been set up through the Australian Sports Foundation, offering tax-deductible donations.
In addition, Ella’s CheerFX team will hold two fundraising events: a car wash and sausage sizzle at Ironhouse Fitness in Caboolture on Sunday, 11 January from 7am to 12pm, and a clothing drive on Sunday, 1 February from 8am to 1pm at the cheerleading facility located at 13 Imboon Street, Deception Bay. All funds raised will go directly towards supporting the team’s trip to the NCA Championships in the USA.
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