When 19-year-old Isabella Williams found out she was going to meet not one but 10 Houston Texans cheerleaders, her face lit up like a lightbulb.
“She LOVES to cheer,” said Child Life Specialist Natalie Juneau. “This is a perfect event for her.”
The event Juneau had the privilege of inviting Williams and other patients to on August 13, was the fourth Houston Texans Jr. Cheer Mini Camp. Held in a conference room on the fourth floor of the Pavilion for Women, the event brings the Texans Junior Cheerleader Program to children who wouldn’t be able to participate otherwise.
“This is one of my favorite events,” Texans cheerleader Shakila said. “I love being able to make the kids smile.”
View photos from the event below.
Shakila and her colleagues – Amanda, Ashley, Briana, Gabrielle, Kristin, Lainey, Natalie, Taryn and Taylor – spent about an hour with Isabella and several other Texas Children’s patients. The cheerleaders performed for them, did an arts and crafts project with them, signed autographs, posed for pictures, and handed out lots of goodies, including Junior Cheerleader T-Shirts, insulated water bottles and bright red pom-poms.
At one point during the event, the patients were divided into three teams with the cheerleaders – Liberty White, Battle Red and Deep Steel Blue –and asked to come up with their own group cheer and perform it for everyone in the room. Excitement filled the room as the patients cheered for their hometown NFL team.
“We are so glad to be here today,” Taryn said. “We can’t wait to get to know you and for you to get to know us.”
For 9-year-old Luci Warren, the visit from the cheerleaders was a bright spot on what could have been a pretty dull birthday spent in the hospital.
“I got very excited when I found out I was going to meet them,” Luci said.
Luci’s father, Rob Warren, said being able to attend the event was a pleasant surprise, especially since it fell around his daughter’s special day.
Following the event, the cheerleaders visited patients on the 11th floor of West Tower. These patients were unable to make it to the event at the Pavilion for Women and enjoyed seeing a friendly face.
The Houston Texans Jr. Cheer Mini Camp is made possible due to an ongoing partnership Texas Children’s has with the Texans to inspire children to lead healthier, more active lives through camps, programs and events all year long. Texas Children’s works alongside the Texans through community engagement and education programs to give Houston-area kids the tools necessary to make healthy choices throughout their lives.
