Preparing for a fourth hip surgery is not about to stop Bella Stokes from rocking her pom poms.
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She and her best friend Gaby Rooks are in years five and six at Turner Primary School and will head to the Gold Coast in November to compete in the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation national competition.
Bella has cerebral palsy. Her mother Katie Stokes said cheerleading had increased her confidence, friendships and physical strength.
"It is hard when you are in a wheelchair to feel like you can do the normal things but she has always had an amazing attitude towards just doing it," she said.
"She has had some big medical problems with her hips and will be having her fourth hip surgery right after nationals, and she gets a lot of pain as well so just having a distraction is really good for her."
The inseparable pair spend their lunchtimes rehearsing their award-winning routine with coach Belinda Dawson who visits from Sirens Cheerleaders in Mitchell as Bella can't use the cheerleading school's spring board.
A video of the routine, which has garnered 30,000 views on Facebook, shows Gaby doing fan kicks behind Bella's wheelchair and Bella spinning around in her wheelchair while throwing her arms in the air - all while beaming with joy.
One who watched their performance at the NSW state championships wrote "there were so many tears from the crowd". Many others remarked on how beautiful and inspiring the girls were.
Despite the social media attention, glittery costumes and shining moments on stage, when asked what she enjoyed most about cheerleading, Bella said, "Being with my best friend."
And Ms Stokes could not be more grateful for the friendship.
"Gaby has been incredible and is just an amazing girl," she said.
"They are just like any other best friends."
But the best friends feel like they've become "cheer-lebrities" for gaining the chance to compete alongside some 10,000 competitors - including five other special ability teams - at the AASCF national championships.
"I am so excited to meet the teams because there's a Victorian team I want to meet and become friends with," she said.
"I think we can do well; Bell's sassy faces are really good."
She said their achievements showed that anyone could dance.
