Dancers Against Cancer

Fellow Dancers and all Who Love Dance! We (Carey and Rachel) have decided for a senior year community outreach project that we are going to do several activities over the next year in support of the American Cancer Society (ACS). Let us tell you about why this organization is important to us by telling you about the impact of cancer on our lives.

On June 28, 2013, Rachel's Grandpa, John Petherbridge, died of esophageal cancer in Brighton, England. He was only diagnosed in April, 2013, having never been sick or having any symptoms before getting seriously ill. He was only 73. He was the coolest Grandpa you could imagine and he loved dance and all the arts so much. This time was really hard on Rachel's family with her dad flying back and forth to England to spend time with Grandpa, and Rachel, mom and Rachel's brother at home trying to get through the school year and the dance recital. Rachel was supposed to go stay with him last August, but that was not to be. Choosing to use a dance theme around raising funds to fight cancer helps Rachel take something she loves and that he loved and use it in a positive way.

Carey's family has also been touched by cancer. Carey's grandfather died from prostate cancer in Shelby, North Carolina in October, 2001. He had prostate cancer that the doctors thought was in remission but it actually had spread to his bones and spine. Carey was three years old when he died and misses him every day. Carey can remember playing with legos and tinker toys with him for hours at a time. They would build tall towers and then knock them over. Carey's mom used to tell Carey stories about how her grandfather would always go to all her activities when she was growing up, and Carey knows he would have been there for her too if he could have been. He would have been so proud to see what an amazing dancer Carey has become! Creating a dance to honor his memory and raising funds to fight cancer is the best way Carey can think to honor his memory and help the fight against cancer.

We know that many of you, too, have lost those you loved to cancer or have fought it and have won. We hope that you will join us in supporting our efforts to stop cancer and to give more birthdays to the loved ones, such as grandfathers, so they can watch those grandkids grow up and do them proud!

:) Dance on!
Rachel Petherbridge & Carey Barnette