What was supposed to be a celebratory journey for the Kankakee Elite Cheer team turned into an unthinkable ordeal when their charter bus failed to arrive, leaving the team stranded at their middle school. After months of fundraising, donations, and sponsorships, the cheer squad and their families found themselves out over $10,000—and left sleeping on the cold floor of a school gym.
The team was headed to Tampa, Florida, to compete in a cheer competition, but their plans unraveled when Dolton-based Samuel Bus Service, owned by Samuel Parks, failed to deliver on their contract. The bus company not only failed to show but left the team scrambling for answers as their calls and texts went ignored.
“This is not a cheap trip,” said Seyborn Billings, President of Kankakee Elite Football and Cheerleading. “These cheerleaders worked so hard to raise the money, only to be let down in such a devastating way.”
Initially, Parks offered multiple excuses, claiming a driver was ill and another had suffered a fatal heart attack. Text messages also cited mechanical issues with the bus. But a deeper investigation revealed that Samuel Bus Service had lost its U.S. Department of Transportation authorization in January 2024 due to an expired insurance policy. The company’s Illinois business license had also been inactive since 2023. Parks provided disconnected numbers for supposed replacement buses and failed to respond to over 100 calls from the team.
The team’s GoFundMe campaign, titled “Stranded Cheerleaders Need Your Support,” was quickly launched to help cover the sudden expense of booking a new bus service. Despite the setback, they managed to raise the funds needed to hire another company, paying an additional $13,000 to get to Tampa just in time for the competition.
Despite the heartbreak, the Kankakee Elite Cheer team embodied what the cheerleading world knows best: resilience and teamwork. They rallied to turn their misfortune into a rallying cry, proving their commitment to “put it all on the mat.” After an exhausting 17-hour bus ride, the team arrived in Tampa, ready to give their all in the competition.
“It’s about these young women who worked very hard to get where they’re at,” said Billings. “We’re focused on them finishing what they started.
The incident has sparked outrage and support from the cheerleading community. Parents and community members have emphasized the need for due diligence when booking travel for teams, calling for greater accountability in the charter bus industry. Many have shared the team’s GoFundMe, while others have offered words of encouragement to the athletes.
The cheer team’s focus now is on their performance, but they plan to report the scam to authorities after their return from Florida. Their story highlights the challenges that community cheer teams face when raising funds for expensive trips—and underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in youth athletics.
As the Kankakee Elite Cheer team takes the mat in Tampa, they carry with them not only their routines but the support of an entire community. Win or lose, they’ve already demonstrated the true spirit of cheerleading: resilience, determination, and teamwork.
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