Penn State Behrend’s Spirit Benefits American Cancer Society
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will donate $8,000 to the American Cancer Society–exceeding its goal of $7,150–as a result of the fifth annual Spirit Against Cancer dance and cheerleading competition held earlier this month. The event has donated $26,500 to the organization since its inception in 2001.
“We are very proud of Spirit Against Cancer and the philanthropic donations that Penn State Behrend is able to make as a result of it,” said Brian Streeter, director of athletics. “While similar events have fallen by the wayside, Penn State Behrend has the resources and has put forth the effort required to make this event a success for the squads who participate and, ultimately, the American Cancer Society.”
Streeter and Stacy Pondo, assistant to the director of athletics, will present Kathy Litch, a representative from the American Cancer Society, with the final $8,000 donation later this month.
This year’s event attracted more than 650 participants from 51 dance and cheerleading teams from Pennsylvania and New York, including middle school, junior high, junior varsity, high school varsity, college and all-star squads, plus private dance studios.
Spirit Against Cancer was created in memory of Becky Hubler Decker, a former dance coach at Penn State Behrend. She also served as a cheerleading coach at Edinboro University, was captain of the Invaderettes, the dance team for the National Indoor Football League’s former Erie Invaders, and was a member of the Buffalo Bills’ Jills dance team.