Former Cheerleader To Lip Sync to Raise Money For Lung Health

TAMPA, FL — Former competitive dancer and Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleader, Sybil Stanonis, is working to raise money for the American Lung Association. On Jan. 21, she will join other local celebrities for the organization’s virtual Lip Sync For Lungs event.

Stanonis began dancing when she was just 5 years old. She was invited to perform across Russia and Denmark. Her professional credits include two seasons as an NFL Cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with promotional work and community events.

While pursuing her degree in psychology at SUNY Old Westbury, she continued dancing with the Knicks City Dancers summer dance events. Although she had an exciting career, Stanonis experienced significant challenges from an eating disorder, addiction and domestic violence. Now, she is a successful entrepreneur and a single mom to two teen boys. In 2015, she launched Dance Therapy with Sybil. Stanonis is also a sponsor of Florida Recovery Schools of Tampa Bay.

“Sometimes your mess becomes your message. My life experiences, psychology degrees, and dance expertise developed the curriculum for my program,” Stanonis said. “When I work with the kids, they are learning dance technique and stage presence, but more importantly they are learning how to be a good human and how to deal with their own feelings. My purpose as a dance therapist is to help each person discover how they can be the best they can be.”

Through her dance therapy work with the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance, Stanonis connected with the Lung Association’s Lip Sync For Lungs in 2018 as a performer. On Jan. 21, she will once again compete in Lip Sync For Lungs, an event where local celebrities execute lip sync performances to win the top spot of Lip Sync “VIRTUAL LIVE BATTLE” Champion.

Since Stanonis used to smoke and vape, she is closely connected with the mission of the organization.

“I was a smoker for about 15 years. I quit smoking cigarettes six years ago, but went right to vaping,” Stanonis said “I discovered that vaping was just a hand-to-mouth habit for me. It was a revelation and I had to stop. It was not good for me or my health, and I wanted to set a good example for my boys. My dance also helped me figure this out. It was quite remarkable. I quit vaping Oct. 21, 2019.”

Stanonis is also participating because she survived the coronavirus, and in memory of her aunt who passed away from small cell lung cancer after battling leukemia.

Money raised at Lip Sync For Lungs will fund the Lung Association’s efforts to end lung cancer and lung disease, as well as support the organization’s COVID-19 Action Initiative.

The COVID-19 Action Initiative is a $25 million investment to address COVID-19 and protect against future respiratory virus pandemics. The initiative works with public and private entities to increase research collaboration and develop new vaccines, detection tests and treatment therapies.

For the event, the celebrity with the most votes will win the top spot of Lip Sync “VIRTUAL LIVE BATTLE” Champion. Votes are $1 each, so $25 will get Stanonis 25 votes, and $100 will get her 100 votes. Learn more about the event, get tickets and vote for Stanonis at LipSyncForLungsTampa.org.

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• WFLA-TV's Leigh Spann Lip Sings to Raise Money for COVID-19