When Candlestone resident Ilagene “Gene” Doehring stepped onto the sidelines with the Merrill High School cheer team, it wasn’t just a walk down memory lane — it was a celebration of a legacy. At 97 years old, Gene fulfilled her Dream Big wish by rejoining the squad she helped found decades ago, proudly wearing the school colors and leading cheers once more.
“I may be 97, but when I was cheering, I felt 17 again,” Gene shared — a sentiment that perfectly captures her spirit and the heart of StoryPoint’s Dream Big initiative. From hand-sewing uniforms in her youth to rallying spirit in the present, Gene reminds us all that passion knows no age.
Click below to read Gene’s full story and learn how her dream came true.