Mystery as Aussie mum dies suddenly in the US while on the trip of a lifetime – as her heartbroken daughters’ brave act in her honour is revealed
Australia’s close-knit cheerleading community is in shock over the sudden death of a mother of two girls who were about to compete at a cheerleading tournament overseas.
Gold Coast mother-of-four Stacy Foley had ‘trouble breathing’ before she tragically died in Hawaii last Friday.
The tragedy unfolded just hours before her daughters Caitlin and Sierra were about to compete with their ZACS Allstars teammates at the Global Dance and Cheer Games in Honolulu.
Despite their devastating loss, the brave girls were determined to do their mum proud and chose to compete on both days of the tournament.
The cheerleading community have wrapped their arms around the heartbroken family as they prepare to bring Ms Foley’s body home.
The girls’ father has made the frantic dash to Hawaii to be by their side.
Gold Coast mum Stacy Foley (pictured) died while the trip of a lifetime with her daughters
‘We are incredibly proud of the bravery and resilience her two daughters Caitlin and Sierra have shown by still hitting the competition floor and performing as they believe this would have made her proud,’ ZACS Allstars wrote.
‘We are reaching out to our close cheer community to hopefully help support these girls and ensure they can travel home with their mum.
‘We thank you all for your support at this sad time and want you all to remember to live every moment.’
More than $21,000 has already been raised within hours for Ms Foley’s family.
‘Cheer and Dance has been a huge part of this family’s lives for a really long time,’ the online fundraiser states.
‘Imagine coming on this trip of a lifetime and one they had planned and worked towards for so long only to now be returning home without their mum.
‘It is not only expensive, but also traumatic organising and paying for your mum to come home with you to Australia, especially when the girls are so young.’
Stacy’s brave daughters (pictured together) dedicated their performances at the Global Dance and Cheer Games to their late mum
Ms Foley’s devastated son Dylan has thanked the cheerleading club for looking after his two younger sister still in Hawaii.
‘I am so so very grateful and thankful for the ZACS family for looking after my sisters while they are still not home. You are all so amazing. Thank you all for your support ahead in this hard time,’ he wrote.
Ms Foley spent years saving for the trip of a lifetime with her daughters, which included six weeks in the US after the tournament in Hawaii.
‘The girls are home schooled so their mum is their whole life – they are with her 24/7,’ ZACS owner Rachel White told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
‘At first we weren’t really sure how they were going to be, but they decided they still wanted to compete – they were like ‘that’s what mum would have wanted us to do’.
Ms White got the devastating news last Friday morning from tournament organisers who had been advised of the tragedy by hotel staff.
‘She just had trouble breathing that night – that’s all we know of,’ Ms White said.
The tragic news has sparked an outpouring of tributes led by the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation.’
‘We are encouraging the AASCF community to get behind this family & support them during this tragedy – to help get their mum home & begin rebuilding their lives.’ the federation wrote.
Our love and thoughts are with family, friends & the ZACS community during this time.
