For Amira Heep, who greets fans at Lincoln Financial Field, nothing would be more thrilling than singing the national anthem before a Philadelphia Eagles game.

"That would just be the coolest thing in the world," said the 24-year-old, who has lived in Chestnut Hill for almost all of her life, building a reputation as both a determined athlete and gifted singer.

Born with Down syndrome, a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, Heep has never let developmental challenges define her. The syndrome, which results in 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46, affects brain and body development, leading to developmental delays and low muscle tone that can impact speech. But for Heep, these challenges became opportunities to excel.

In May 2019, Heep showcased her vocal talents at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics Montgomery County Invitational Track and Field Meet at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. Her performance impressed Scott Otterbein, program manager of the Montgomery County Special Olympics chapter.

"I couldn't have imagined her singing the national anthem when I first met her," said Otterbein, who has a daughter with Down syndrome. "Amira loves music; she was always at practice with headphones on."

Heep's journey as a singer began at age 5, but it was during her time at Jenks Academy for Arts and Sciences in Chestnut Hill that she really got serious. When other students teased her about the quality of her speaking voice, she responded by working harder to improve it. She took voice lessons at St. Paul's Church with Mickey Leone of the Chestnut Hill Music Academy, complementing her vocal training with piano and guitar lessons.

"A friend named Nyla helped me," Heep recalled. "I sing reggae, country, pop and Afrobeat – but not opera."

Beyond her musical pursuits, Heep is an accomplished athlete. At the 2019 Special Olympics track meet, she finished third in the 100 meters, fourth in the 4x100 relay and fifth in the javelin. This spring, she'll expand her competitive repertoire to include javelin, shot put, long jump, and the 100- and 200-meter events.

Her athletic inspiration comes from the Olympic legend Jesse Owens, the youngest of 10 children and grandson of a slave who won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, becoming the first American track and field athlete to achieve this feat at a single Olympic Games. 

"I learned about him in middle school,” Heep said. “He inspired me." 

A graduate of Roxborough High School, where she's in the Sports Hall of Fame, Heep earned her degree from Temple University in 2023, majoring in Leadership and Career Studies. She now works multiple roles at Philadelphia sports venues, serving as a greeter for the Sixers and Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, at Outphitters sportswear store in the Wells Fargo Center, and as an usher at the Hyundai VIP Club.

Her father, Jeremy Heep, proudly notes that she "gets the best seats in the house." Recently, she received the "Star of the Game" Award at an Eagles game, celebrated in front of 65,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.

Heep, who splits her time between her parents' homes in Chestnut Hill – her mother Darlene lives less than a mile from her father – can often be seen walking around Chestnut Hill. 

"People see Amira walking down the Avenue all the time, as far down as the Mt. Airy Library," Jeremy said. "One nice thing about the neighborhood is that people watch out for her. She knows that if she has an issue, she can drop into just about any store for help. I constantly get reports from folks in the community that they have seen her, and they let me know how she seemed to be doing.”

Beyond her Eagles anthem dream, Heep aspires to visit Africa, where both her parents once lived. Her father spent two years with the Peace Corps in Comoros, East Africa, in the 1980s. After graduating from law school, he worked in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, and Congo in Central Africa with the International Foundation for Election Systems.

"I loved the people, the culture and the music," Jeremy said of his time in Africa, "although Congo was very difficult because of civil war. It may sound like a cliché, but most regular people in war-torn countries are interested in the same things we are – meaningful, peaceful lives for them and their families."

The Heep family expressed gratitude to Blue Tesfaye and Cameron Hoke of the Eagles Autism Foundation, who "have supported Amira and been absolutely super partners!" (Are you listening, Jeffrey Lurie?)

Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com