Approximately $5,000 was raised for Kids Stock the House in conjunction with the second annual “Cheer for a Cure” showcase at Hampton Bays Middle School on Saturday, February 4. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island and the Cohen Children’s Medical Center.

Hosted by the Hampton Bays Varsity Cheerleaders, the annual event, held to raise money for seriously ill children, included friendly competition amongst cheer squads from Hampton Bays, Center Moriches, Mattituck, Ross, Shelter Island and Southold. Each of the teams—the Hampton Bays Baymen, the Center Moriches Devils, the Mattituck Tuckers, the Ross Rams, the Shelter Island Indians and the Southold Clippers—performed individual routines, stunt sequences, tumbling, dance moves and cheers.

In addition to the group routines, the evening featured “Just for Fun Challenges,” including competition in the highest basket toss, longest and fullest extension, best jump, best standing back tuck, best tumbling pass, most standing back handsprings and a show-off. At the end of the evening, all 150 cheer team participants came together for a “Cheer for a Cure” finale routine.

The event was a huge success, according to event coordinator and Hampton Bays varsity coach Katie Miedema. “What it really does is raise money and awareness for a great cause,” she told the packed house at the Hampton Bays Middle School gymnasium just as the night’s events began.