Cheerleader poem

For the last eight or nine years, my niece Katherine has been a cheerleader, cheering for her squad, the other squads in her gym, and eventually her high school football and basketball teams.  The drawing above is one I recently did for her.  But a couple nights ago, she went to the hospital with what they thought might be appendicitis.  It wasn't that, but she's still really sick with an as yet undiagnosed ailment. So  now she needs her friends and family to cheer her on.  I wrote this poem today for her.  Hope you get well soon, Katherine!

Cheerleader

You've practiced for years
Through joy and tears
Flips and twists and arabesques
Bow and arrows and all the rest
Some base, some fly
The whole team tries
To hit their moves
So they can prove
Once and for all
They will not fall
They dance and spring
Through their routine
All for the goal
To win the gold
But there is more you see
Than taking home a huge trophy
Take a moment, slow your pace
Look at the word on which it's based
A cheerleader you are
And that's more by far
Than just a sport made
By the judges' grade
The reason you're here
Is to add cheer
When your team is down
And those around
Are sad and fear
A loss is near
In the air you arc
To add that spark
And stoke the team
To reach their dreams
You are not yet aware
That your job doesn't stop there
Throughout your life
In times of strife
Those who are near 
Will need your cheer
To help them through
Their troubles true
In those times you frown
While you are sick and down
Family, friends, even strangers near
Will rise up and bring you cheer
'Round and 'round and 'round it goes
In kind words, acts, poems, and prose
When the time is right
Be it day or night
We are all cheerleaders
For those who need us

-- Steve Emig
Katherine Durham's uncle