SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - Hundreds of people came together on Tuesday evening to remember the life of a 10-year-old girl who tragically died after cheer practice in Southfield last week.
According to a GoFundMe post, ten-year-old Monea Pace was "doing what she loved to do, cheering" when she had trouble breathing and collapsed outside Thompson K-8 International Academy at 16300 Lincoln Drive shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday, July 14.
While 911 was called, bystanders immediately started CPR. Paramedics said the young girl was not breathing upon their arrival and was rushed to a local hospital.
She never regained consciousness and was later pronounced dead.
A commenter on the team's Instagram page wrote Pace appeared to suffer from an asthma attack, but an autopsy with the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office to determine an official cause of death is pending.
Funeral services are scheduled for this upcoming Saturday, July 22, but members of the Southfield-Lathrup Falcons football and cheer youth sports organization gathered at the academy on Tuesday evening in support of Pace's family and friends.
The standout cheerleader was remembered as a "sweet and funny young lady with a beautiful smile."
Pace's aunt, Rondalyn Johnson, said via WXYZ that she's never experienced anything like her niece's death.
"It's like a nightmare... to watch a kid go so soon," she said.
In honor of her love for cheerleading, members of the team dedicated the entire Falcons season to Pace.
A GoFundMe page to help the family with funeral costs was started by Cheer Director Dr. Kim Smith with Southfield Falcon Cheer.
"If there is anything you can do to help the family with burial services for this sweet, silly, respectful, and God-loving little angel, please do," she wrote.
So far, the page as raised over $4,100 out of its $5,000 goal.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ LIVE for the latest updates.
