Two cheerleaders from Gloucestershire were in Florida earlier this year where they competed in the world championships.

Ruby Bettis and Kayla Macbryde are both supported by CASS & Friends, a charity founded by Fiona Carter that is dedicated to helping talented athletes aged 12 to 18 living in and around the Cotswolds reach the top in their particular sport.

Cheerleading is not an Olympic sport but Fiona said: “It’s not dissimilar to tumbling and trampolining.

“It’s a grassroots sport and our charity was set up to support under-funded athletes. It’s good to support marginalised sports.”

CASS & Friends are currently supporting 27 athletes involved in sports as diverse as tumbling, rowing, pistol shooting and swimming as well as cheerleading, and each one can receive up to £1,000 a year in funds from the charity depending on their requirements as they pursue their sporting dreams.

And a number of those athletes being supported by the charity have enjoyed great success in recent times.

Chloe Sheppard finished third in the under-19 world rowing championships in France, while 17-year-old Jessica Duncton has just competed in the 100 metres hurdles at the European Under-20 Championships in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Joel Masters, a 15-year-old at Chipping Campden School, won a bronze in the 200 metres in the under-17 national championships at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

“He’s only been sprinting for 18 months as he is also a very good footballer,” said a delighted Fiona.

Anyone wishing to sponsor one of the athletes with Cass & Friends should email Fiona at fiona@cassandfriends.org