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Marni Panas has been going to Edmonton Elks games for decades, cheering for the team from the stands. This year he decided to try something different and cheered for them from the pitch.
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Last Saturday Panas fulfilled his lifelong dream when he debuted as a cheerleader at the Elks halftime show.
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“It was one of the most joyful experiences of my life,” said Panas. “It was so much fun.”
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Each year, Edmonton Elks Football Club offers fans aged four and over the chance to cheer alongside the Elks Cheer Team at a halftime show. As a subscriber, he has already seen the offer, but he always thought it was for younger children.
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This year, Panas said something clicked and decided to take the opportunity. After all, he is over four years old.
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“I turned 50 last year,” Panas said. “It’s been a year of power just to really own who I am and not care what other people think and live my best life.”
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“I will only do the things that bring me joy, bring me true, true joy, and this was one of them.”
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Panas said she was a little worried when she came to the first workout to find the room full of more than 100 children. But it didn’t discourage her too much; she would have done it even if she were the only adult in the group.
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