Telford cheerleader joins first ever paralympic eligible team for world championships
A cheerleader from Telford is set to make history next month as part of the first ever paralympic eligible cheerleading team.
Zoe Witham, who coaches and competes at local club CheerUnleashed, has passed rigorous classification to join Team ParaCheer GB for a landmark showcase at the ICU World Championships in Florida.
The achievement marks a significant milestone for Zoe, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis nearly three years ago.
The diagnosis followed periods of numbness in her hand and legs, which forced her to step away from competitive cheerleading and face the prospect of never being able to stunt again. However, following support and treatment from the NHS, she returned to her local club before being selected for this global research project.
The Paralympic Cheerleading Project is an initiative managed by Rick Rodgers and Chantal Epp under the UK charity Cheer for Everyone. It aims to develop a high-performance team consisting entirely of athletes with paralympic eligible impairments, testing how the sport can be adapted for the highest level of international competition.
While adaptive cheerleading has included both disabled and non-disabled athletes for a decade, this specific project is a prototype for future Paralympic Games recognition.
The project is a multi-year effort that began with trial sessions in March 2025. The current squad has spent the year developing adaptive techniques to manage balance and choreography.
If the sport is eventually accepted by the International Paralympic Committee, it would be unique in allowing athletes of all genders and various sport classes to compete together on one team.
Zoe is one of nine athletes who will be showcasing the routine in the United States. The team focuses on demonstrating that the fast-paced, acrobatic disciplines of cheerleading can be made accessible without losing the elite nature of the sport.
Organisers describe the initiative as a movement to show the world what adaptive performance can look like, with a mission of inclusion first and excellence always.
The Team ParaCheer GB athletes heading to the World Championships are Emma Pitt, Erin Ackerley, Abbie Harrington, Fay James, Gemma Stevenson, Zoe Witham, Staci Gilbert, Annalise Powell, and Paul Connor.
They have been supported by a coaching staff of five, half of whom are also disabled, ensuring the development of the routine is led by those with lived experience of adaptive sport.
