But team members said what they’ll remember most isn’t the money — it was getting to be up close at Ford Field in Detroit for the Lions’ final preseason game Aug. 22 against the Atlanta Falcons, as guests of the team organization.

“Being in the tunnel and watching them (the players) all … walking out of the tunnel. That was my favorite part,” said senior cheerleader Jordyn Beauchamp, 17.

Before the game, Beauchamp also got to walk onto Ford Field with cheer coach Brie Lippens, along with representatives of five other cheer teams and five football teams from Michigan schools.

She admitted about being on Ford Field, “I was excited, and I was really nervous.”

Bark River-Harris varsity and junior high cheerleaders pose Aug. 22 in front of statue outside Ford Field, where the Detroit Lions play. The cheer team had been invited by the Lions organization to attend the final preseason game. (Photo courtesy of Brie Lippens)

The coaches took 11 varsity and four junior high cheer members on the trip after being chosen by the Detroit Lions Foundation to receive a Touchdown in Your Town grant.

The foundation program, in its seventh year, offers the grants “to provide support for Michigan high school football and cheer (spirit) programs in need.”

Lippens applied in the spring. The Detroit organization informed her they’d been chosen a few weeks later — and invited them to the preseason game, with the foundation paying for the trip.

It would give the team an opportunity to connect with other cheer programs, meet the Lions cheerleaders and even bring their families along.

In addition to the 15 students, Lippens included varsity co-coach Chelsea McDonough; Marissa Backlund, junior high head coach; and Alissa O’Driscoll, junior high assistant coach.

Bark River-Harris competitive cheer coach Brie Lippens and senior cheerleader Jordyn Beauchamp appear on the big screen at Ford Field Aug. 22 holding their $7,000 Touchdown in Your Town grant from the Detriot Lions Foundation. The organization invited the cheer team to attend the final preseason game as the Lions' guests. (Photo courtesy of Brie Lippens)

While the Lions players were impressive, seeing the team’s cheerleaders reinforced what they were doing could lead to bigger things, they said.

Ellie Stemick, 15, said of the experience, “Getting to meet the Lions cheerleaders, that was cool.”

Kendra Ault, 16, agreed. “Watching them perform was so cool, especially in person.”

Lippens, who was named District 24-4 Coach of the Year in March, first saw the Detroit Lions grant opportunity in a Facebook group called Coaches Helping Coaches. Only two days remained before the deadline to apply.

Lippens said she’s always looking for opportunities to raise money for the self-funded program. “We’ve been growing every year,” she explained.

Bark River-Harris cheer coach Brie Lippens and senior cheerleader Jordyn Beauchamp pose while on Ford Field to receive one of Detroit Lions Foundation's Touchdown in Your Town grants Aug. 22. (Photo courtesy of Brie Lippens)

The school’s other self-funded sports include baseball, softball, wrestling and gymnastics. They did have a gun raffle for a number of years that eventually ceased.

She wasn’t told how much they’d receive until she got to the Lions game, calling the $7,000 amount “the highlight of the day.”

After meeting with the cheer board, made up of the cheer girl’s parents, they decide to purchase various tumbling equipment items, such as an air track and an octagon mat.

Lippens called the tumbling equipment “the main priority,” adding they’ll look at uniform options as well with any remaining funds from the grant.

“We’re getting there. We’re trying to build a huge program. It’s our goal,” she said.

Bark River-Harris varsity and junior high cheerleaders got to meet some of the Detroit Lions cheerleaders before the team's final preseason game Aug. 22 at Ford Field in Detroit. (Photo courtesy of Brie Lippens)

The Bark River-Harris varsity team holds up the $7,000 Touchdown in Your Town grant received from the Detroit Lions Foundation. (Photo courtesy of Brie Lippens)