St. Ignace Saints varsity cheer captains Whitney Robinson (left) and Sydney Schroeder are raising $1,500 each to participate in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York November 23. Sydney Schroeder and Whitney Robinson, co-captains of the St. Ignace cheerleading squad, are planning to be a part of the 80th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York November 23. Each must raise $1,500 for the week-long trip.

The two LaSalle High School seniors were invited to take part through the Universal Cheer Association (UCA) during the cheer team's July camp at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. The UCA invites all high school junior and senior cheer captains across the country to participate in the parade, in which they will walk down Broadway Avenue with other cheer captains, floats, balloons, bands, and celebrities.

The girls raised $500 at a spaghetti dinner at Java Joe's Tuesday, September 12. They plan more fundraising until they leave for the parade.

The girls, accompanied by their mothers, will spend a week in New York, enjoying a tour of the city and will stay at the Hilton Hotel.

Both 17, they have four years of varsity cheerleading experience and participated in the traditional Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day football game two years ago with their squad.

Donations to the girls' Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade trip can be dropped off at the LaSalle High School office.