Hope gets her wish to be a ND cheerleader
Posted: Sep 16, 2011 11:42 PM EDT | Updated: Nov 6, 2014 10:10 AM EDT
NOTRE DAME – If you notice a Notre Dame cheerleader this weekend that looks a little young to be in college, you’re right. Nine year-old Hope Mullery is getting to be a Fighting Irish Cheerleader thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the university.
Hope has cystic fibrosis, but she isn’t letting that stop her from doing what she loves. That’s to cheer. “It’s really fun because you get to learn different cheers and go in stunts,” said Hope.
Hope traveled with her family from Pennsylvania. She gets to spend the weekend doing everything a Notre Dame Cheerleader gets to do including learning the cheers.
“We taught her one already today. We got her a uniform. So she’ll match us perfectly,” said Cheerleader Meredith Angell.
On Thursday the squad gave Hope her own official uniform and a set of her very own pom poms. On Friday Hope got to put them to use walking with the squad in the pep rally.
But Saturday is her big debut on the field at Notre Dame Stadium.
“I’m really excited because I never been to a Notre Dame game before and I wanted to cheer with the cheerleaders,” said Hope.
The squad is hoping Hope might be good luck for the Fighting Irish. “We defiantly need to get a win, and for Hope, we need to get a win. I’m thinking she’s going to be our lucky charm,” said Angell.
For Hope, she’s just ready to cheer. “I like cheerleading and I like Notre Dame, and I wanted to cheer with the Notre Dame cheerleaders,” said Hope.