Cheerleading Honors & Recognition Future Cheer is proud to recognize the accomplishments of UK Cheer and Dance Teams, Coaches and Program Directors!   Congratulations on all you are doing to make a positive impact around the world! Congratulations Shara Brice! Ascension Eagles Director Shara Brice honoured with MBE Ten years ago when Rev. Jonathan Brice and his American wife Shara went to meet their Bishop to see where they might serve next, Jonathan was delighted when the Bishop offered the Church of the Ascension, Victoria Docks, Custom House in Newham. Jonathan confided to his wife that this was his “dream parish.” After visiting the urban area in London’s East End, Shara was not completely sure why her husband was so excited about this particular parish. However, a decade later, she now shares his vision and is grateful to be part of the lives of the people caught up in regeneration in the Royal Docks area of the Thames Gateway. Decades ago, when the Docks were flourishing, hundreds of dockers would come to Ascension each morning for communion. However, after the Docks closed, the community lost its heart. While other local churches were being forced to close their doors, Ascension’s faithful few voiced their concerns to the Chelmsford Diocese saying that if Ascension closed its doors, it would be like the Church turning its back on the community when it needed them most. They gained support from Felsted School (Essex) Ascension’s founder during Queen Victoria’s reign, and also the LDDC. Instead of being shut down, Ascension was renovated and reopened its doors in December 1995. Rev. Brice, Shara and their 10-month-old daughter Crichelle moved to the parish in January 1996. Their second child, Joel, was born in April 1997. Ascension was committed to being “a church in the community, for the community, for the 21st century.” Instead of waiting for people to come to the church for traditional services, Ascension responded to local needs. Over 2000 local people are served each month through elders lunch clubs, short mat bowls, tea dancing, reminiscence groups, transitional mentoring, literacy support, community integration projects, school assemblies, homeless outreach, Ascension Football Academy and the Garden Café. However, Ascension’s most unusual outreach project are the history-breaking, record-making Ascension Eagles Cheerleaders. These 100 local youth, aged 5-23, hold British titles in every age division. Although the group placed at the bottom in their first competition back in 1997, they have gone on to entertain over 170 million and won over 250 trophies, including 103 first place titles. The Senior Coed team have been British Champions since 1998, and are proud to be the England team for the Cheerleading Worlds to be held in Orlando, Florida in April 2006. Ascension Eagles founder and Director Shara Brice, MBE said, “We started AEC as a church outreach project to keep kids off the streets. We were soon known as “the spirit of London’s East End.” We then progressed to be Britain’s best cheer program. Now we are recognized as one of the best teams in the world. It is more than we ever imagined or dared to dream. We work hard to represent our East End community and our nation with excellence. The benefits of being involved in Ascension Eagles extend beyond what we accomplish in a season; what we are doing is cross-training for life. “When I came to study in Oxford 16 years ago, I had no idea that I would meet the man I would marry, and that we would make our home in England. At first it was hard being so far away from my family and friends, but through the Ascension Eagles I have found an extended family. It is such a privilege to work with these talented young people and their families. Together we have had many opportunities to grow in character and in lifeskills, and to serve as ambassadors for our community and country. Some of the cheerleaders’ parents say their children accomplish more in one year as an Ascension Eagle than they have in an entire lifetime. I started volunteering when I was 14 years old and have worked with many groups over the years. However, I have never experienced anything quite like the Ascension Eagles. As they transfer their cheerleading success into the other parts of their lives, they will be able to make the most of all the regeneration potential in our East End community. Because of the 2012 Bid success, which the cheerleaders participated in, a lot of attention is being focused on East London. However, we know that great things have been happening here for years, and the best is yet to come.” Upon receiving her MBE, Shara said, “I am very overwhelmed by this incredible award. I am humbled, because I have been privileged to work with so many inspirational people over the years, and I believe this award belongs to them as well. My family are so supportive, and together we live out this adventure in the place where God has called us to serve. I pray God will use this award to bring positive recognition to all that goes on at Ascension and in our community.”