Stella Bertz Cheer for a Cure®

cheer for a cure® is a grass roots 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. collectively as cheerleaders, coaches, and fans we raise money to donate to families who have loved ones suffering from cancer and need assistance to alleviate the added stress of medical house-hold bills. one can’t prepare for tragedy. and when it hits, it strikes hard. we seek to stand in the gap for those who need help, to aid in softening the blow. also, through our cheer events, we help athletic departments and booster clubs raise money for their cheerleading programs. cheer for a cure® was established in 2005 on behalf of stella bertz who lost an 18 month battle to lung cancer in the fall of the same year. she was a non-smoker, avid jogger, and beloved cheerleading and softball coach. for over ten years, stella coached and mentored high school girls; teaching them not just “cheers” but also the virtue of what it really meant to be leaders. at her funeral on a cold february day, many of her cheerleaders, past an