Six-year-old with cancer inspires world champion Energizers Dance Team: "The happiest kid alive"



HARTFORD -- They have put Hartford, Wisconsin on the map -- nationally and internationally. They'll tell you they couldn't have done it without the love and support of a little girl who will never stop fighting.

"It's exciting walking in as a team, and you see all the flags and you say 'oh my goodness!' It's just a lot of countries there, and it's just a great experience," Lauren Curtis said.

Energizers Dance Team



The Energizers Dance Team has put Hartford on the map for years -- but in April in Orlando, they outdid themselves, with a performance of historic proportions.

"It's more than just like, we went and won two. It's like the entire journey, the entire season leading up to it. That's just the cherry on top," Erin Malec said.



Competing against 4,500 dance athletes from over 40 countries, the Energizers took home two world titles -- increasing their total to five since 2007.

"I'm proud of who they are, on and off the floor. I'm certainly proud that we can say they are world champion dancers, but they really are world champion people," Sheila Trost, Energizers founder and coach said.



"Everyone's just so nice and open, and even the first day I knew I had friends that I was going to carry the entire season and even years after that," Nate Husser said.

"You have girls hugging each other and crying and saying 'no matter what happens, I love you guys,' and that, I feel, is the most amazing part of this program. It's never about winning or the placements. It's about being there for each other," Lauren Labrasca said.

Madie Kavanaugh



The heart and soul of and the inspiration for these five-time and back-to-back world champions is six-year-old Madie Kavanaugh. She is an honorary Energiezers team member and an assistant coach.

Madie is battling neuroblastoma.

Alexia Kavanaugh



"She has three tumors. One is in her spinal column, and she has two on the outer parts of her spinal column. She has one wrapped around her spinal cord and they're all intermingled together. She also has an aorta tumor," Alexia Kavanaugh said.

Alexia Kavanaugh said she will never forget January 29th, 2015. That was the day doctors discovered Madie's cancer.

"They found a tumor the size of a softball behind her left lung. That was six hours in the ER, waiting to meet with oncology, numerous CT scans, numerous X-rays and my world literally came crashing down that day," Alexia Kavanaugh said.

Madie Kavanaugh



As much as Alexia Kavanaugh is hurting, she is moving forward as gracefully as possible. How?

"My daughter. She doesn't act like your normal cancer kid. She doesn't let anything bother her. She was puking up a storm at chemo and she walked out of there with a smile. She always has a smile on her face. She's like the happiest kid alive," Alexia Kavanaugh said.

The "happiest kid alive" keeps the Energizers going too.

"She inspires me every day to keep going, because she's such a little fighter. She has a heart of gold and I couldn't ask for a better friend," Alexis Trost said.

Madie Kavanaugh and Energizers Dance Team



"It was honestly so special like, knowing that she was here cheering us on. She was just as excited as we were," Cierra Trost said.

"She's my twin. We're name twins. She's my music buddy and I love being around her. She's the most positive person with a beautiful smile and a beautiful heart," Maddie Pinter said.

"When I go home, I'm always thinking about you. I'm always thinking about how you're doing. I love seeing your mom's posts on Facebook, because you're always smiling and you're always happy, no matter what. You always keep positive. We love it when you're here with us," Tannor Allar said.

Energizers Dance Team



How excited was Madie Kavanaugh when the Energizers won the world?

Madie Kavanaugh



"She didn't stop talking about it for a week. We had chemo that week, and every nurse she saw, every patient she saw, it was like 'the Energizers won the world! The Energizers won two golds! The Energizers beat everybody out! My sisters won! I won! My team won!'" Alexia Kavanaugh said.

Everyone in Hartford is praying Madie Kavanaugh wins her battle with cancer.

The Energizers Dance Team had bracelets made up that say "Madie Lynn Rose, we're melting for you." Madie loves the move "Frozen."