The family was flown, all expenses paid, to Atlanta in September for the two-day taping with host Steve Harvey, whom Yeo said was “a riot.’’ They lasted three games, which aired last month.
Looking back, Yeo said she was most surprised at the “rock star’’ treatment they received. She wishes she had answered some questions differently, but she wouldn’t trade the experience – or her portion of the winnings, with which she has paid bills and purchased holiday gifts.
“If you can get five people in your family to do it, you should,’’ said Yeo, lamenting the rule that contestants must wait 10 years before auditioning again. “You can’t imagine how fun it is until you do it. For that moment, you’re the star of the show.’’
SWEET SUCCESS: Local cheerleaders recently joined the efforts of the Sudbury Weed Education and Eradication Team to clear an invasive plant species from the meadow at Feeley Field in Sudbury.
The 22 cheerleaders, from Lincoln-Sudbury and Acton-Boxborough regional high schools, were joined by parent helpers, a Sudbury Valley Trustees volunteer, two Lincoln Land Conservation Trust coordinators, and four members of SWEET, as the Sudbury weed team is called. The group used a variety of hand tools to uproot enough glossy buckthorn to fill 15 bags with the stubborn weed for incineration by the Sudbury Department of Public Works.
SWEET works on the wooded property of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and conservation, park, and historical properties in town. Funded by the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic River Small Grants Program and MathWorks of Natick, the organization is also supported by the Sudbury Conservation Commission.
Sara Meier, a senior captain on the Lincoln-Sudbury cheerleading team, said she was impressed at how the two squads joined forces for the day.
“You never see rival teams work together,’’ she said, “so that was awesome.’’