Best friends, teammates since preschool are fundraising for Disney World cheer trip

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They’ve been best friends since preschool.

Since bonding at age 4 as cheerleaders for Chimacum sports teams, together they've gone on to become Chimacum High School seniors, cheerleading team captains and class ASB officers.

Deidra Morris and Jaycie Eldridge now seek community support to what each considers a top cheer and leadership opportunity. The girls are fundraising to attend the 2015 Varsity Spirit Spectacular, taking place Dec. 3-7 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. As senior cheer team captains, they are eligible for the trip, sponsored by Varsity, to meet and perform with cheerleaders from around the country.

"It's been our dream since middle school," Morris said. "It's a real cool opportunity to meet other people and share our leadership skills and learn from them."

"I've been looking forward to this forever," Eldridge said.

Eldridge is the daughter of Bob and Carol Eldridge. Morris is the daughter of Bliss and Lori Morris.

They each started cheerleading at age 4, so-called mini-cheerleaders for the youth football program. Morris cheered for the Chimacum Raiders and Chimacum Seahawks, and Eldridge for the Raiders.

They've remained best friends ever since. This year at Chimacum High, Morris is senior class president, and Eldridge is senior class secretary. The two are captains of the Chimacum High School cheerleading team during football season, and also plan to cheer during basketball season.

"The things we learn [on the cheerleading trip to Disney World] we can bring back to help with school spirit and teach new leadership skills," Morris noted.

Donations for a prize raffle and a bake sale are sought, with a table set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17 at the QFC in Port Hadlock. Contact Lori Morris at 531-0925.

Monetary contributions of any amount may be mailed to 171 Reiner Road, Nordland, WA 98358 or through Paypal. Checks may be made out to either girl; they are splitting all donations. As of Oct. 1, a total of $2,000 was still sought to cover the duo's airline tickets, hotel, food, uniform and Disney ticket requirements.

The high school's 16-member cheerleading program (most CHS teams had no more than 12) won every major award at the National Cheerleaders Association summer camp in Bellingham. The squad's head coach is Lauralee Kiesel, assisted by Jessica (Kiesel) Wesley.

Lauralee Kiesel, who was also preschool teacher to Eldridge and Morris (and Bailey Castillo, another current CHS cheerleader), said she adores all the girls on the cheerleading team, and is glad that two of them are making the fundraising effort for the Florida trip.

"I am very proud of them and am happy the girls and their parents have decided to take advantage of the opportunity that was made available to captains," Kiesel said. "I feel confident with them representing our school and community."