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Girl battling brain tumour to perform live at upcoming OMI concert

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A 12-year-old girl battling brain cancer is gearing up to perform live with her cheerleading club at Jamaican singer OMI’s upcoming concert in Calgary.

Natasha Gould was diagnosed with an aggressive tumour at the base of her brain about a year ago, the same day she was scheduled to try out for the Calgary Stars Gymnastics and Cheerleading Club.

Because of the difficult news, Natasha could not officially try out. But club owner and coach Jodi Poirier made her an honourary member, allowing her to perform at the Stampede City Showdown Competition at Mount Royal University last month. 

“Natasha has a fight in her that I have never seen,” Poirier said. “She is hitting this battle head on, she is not backing down, and her charisma and power is phenomenal.”

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The performance at the competition was dedicated to Natasha and shared on Youtube. That video, along with others compiled by teammates and the international cheerleading community went viral, supporting her courageous fight and raising awareness around her rare childhood cancer – Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas.

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“The cheerleading community is a very close-knit one. And once others heard about this, it didn’t take long for them to offer their support,” Poirier said.

Not long after, OMI’s agent reached out to Natasha’s family inviting her cheerleading club to perform at his concert, scheduled May 1 at the Grey Eagle Casino.

Natasha was thrilled she was able to give back to her teammates with the opportunity after they gave her so much hope and inspiration by allowing her to participate with the team.

“I was so happy when the team invited me to join them and I had so much fun in my first competition. It’s great how that led to this opportunity for the team. We are all excited to perform at the OMI concert!”

Poirier, who was there when Natasha shared the good news with her teammates, said “it was surreal. I’ve never seen such an exciting, exhilirating scream from our girls.”

OMI’s ultra-popular song “Cheerleader” has 514 million hits on Youtube.

In advance of the concert, OMI sent a video message to Natasha and her cheerleading teammates, with his invitaiton.

Natasha’s father Bill Gould said that while his daughter’s battle is difficult, the family is grateful she’s being given a chance to participate in a sport she loves.

“Every opportunity for Natasha to have something to look forward to, to find success in, is a blessing,” he said.

“While Natasha has taken on a mission of raising awareness about childhood cancer, it’s fantastic seeing her just doing the things she wants to be doing as a 12-year-old girl.”

For more information about Natasha’s fight against brain cancer go to her family-created blog at prayfornatasha.ca.

 eferguson@postmedia.com

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