Lake County dance group raising money to compete in Special Olympics World Games

CLEVELAND — A local dance team is looking to raise money so they can compete at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The Deepwood Dancers consist of eight men and women, aged 16 to 61, who have been diagnosed with a developmental or cognitive disability.

Camryn Byrne, Anthony Cervella, Lani Engel, Kathy Habat, Kelleen Kinnaird, Sheryl Kintop, Charles Schulz, Jr. and Michael Sukalac all make up the Deepwood Dancers.

With no professional training, they started dancing as part of a recreation activity supported by Lake County Special Olympics.

The group submitted an audition video this past fall and in December, they were invited to participate in the 2019 Special Olympic World Games.

Watch the Deepwood Dancers below:

The group says their disabilities do not hold them back from their goals, but they are trying to fundraise and prepare for eight people and their chaperones for a trip across the world.

To raise funds and awareness, the dancers performed and hosted a fundraising lunch at the Stadium Grill in Mentor on Feb. 3 and performed at Millard Presidential Library in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon.

The Deepwood Dancers have created a GoFundMe account to raise additional money for their Special Olympics World Games trip.

They have raised over $14,000 of their $30,000 goal. If the Deepwood Dancers are unable to raise the funds needed, donations will go towards future funding and projects for the group.

The Special Olympics World Games take place March 14 through March 21.