Dancing champion is crowned at charity luncheon

Intermountain Catholic

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Dancing with the Saint John the Baptist Stars contestant Cassandra Franks (left) and her professional partner, Carlos Gomez, receive cheers and applause as they glide across the floor and fulfill Franks' campaign to fight heart disease. IC photo/Christine Young

SOUTH JORDAN — Jay Elliott danced the swing to Billy Joel’s hit "Only the Good Die Young," and was crowned the champion of the inaugural Dancing with the Saint John Baptist Stars Ladies Association charity luncheon "Go Red for Women" event held at Noah’s Event Center Nov. 10.

Elliott’s partner was professional dancer Laura Payne from DF Dance Studio; the studio provided the dance instruction for all the contestants.

"Jay was dedicated," Payne said of her partner, who dedicated his dance to his mother, who died of a stroke two years ago. "We’ve appreciated all the contestants."

The six contestants were selected from a casting call at Saint John the Baptist Parish in August after writing a 100-word essay about why they wished to celebrate wiping out heart disease and stroke.

While the contestants were learning their dances, online fundraising pages were set up for each of them through the American Heart Association so people could make pledges. The contestant with the largest dollar value received an additional 25 votes.

"Online voting raised almost $5,000," said Cherie Stater, Go Red For Women director. "The funds will go toward research, a lot of which is done in Utah."

Women attending the luncheon also voted after each contestant danced, bringing the total raised to over $10,000, said Karin Hurley, St. John the Baptist luncheon chairwoman. "Ballroom dancing is a sport and a cardiovascular exercise and a great way to stay active and have fun, and people love to dance," said Hurley.

Heart disease is personal for Hurley. When she was 9 her father had a heart attack at age 35. "This changed my life," she said. "Waiting for him to play with us, instead my siblings and I were warned the police and ambulance were coming to our home."

Her father continued having heart disease and died at 51.

Heart disease touched Elliott’s life, too. "I not only lost my mother to a stroke, I saw my mother-in-law suffer a stroke, my sister-in-law undergo by-pass surgery and my father-in-law die from congenital heart failure," he said. "My goal is to encourage people to start dancing and to help raise awareness of heart disease and if I can put a smile on someone’s face along the way, then I have exceeded my goal. Without laughter and letting loose, life would be boring."

Sandy Growe, another contestant, plans to continue dancing as an example of good stewardship of health for her two teenage daughters, she said. "Life is a valuable gift from God and our bodies are vessels for us to care for. Passion to live life to its fullest can only be done with a healthy heart empowered by healthy eating, exercise and rest. Dance is a way to wipe out heart disease and stroke."

Heart disease is a sensitive issue for contestant Cassandra Franks because it runs in her family, she said. "My grandfather has had multiple heart problems, including bypass surgery. I am dedicating my dance to my Uncle TJ Zehl, who passed away unexpectedly at 38 on Sept. 29. I am going to prove that it is possible to improve life and change it in a positive way, so I can live a long, healthy and successful life."

Michael Cavanaugh agrees that healthy choices are a way to beat heart disease. He lost his father to heart disease at age 72, he said. "Having grown up in Detroit – MoTown – I have always enjoyed dancing," he said. "Being paired with a professional is challenging, and it also puts into practice my competitive energies. So I am ready to celebrate the energy passion and power to wipe out heart disease by educating people about the leading cause of death."

Karen Thompson danced because more must be done to combat heart disease, she said. Recently a friend told her of his near-death experience. "The third paddle shock brought him back," she said. "I danced because I can."

Jake Green danced because he is getting married in June. "Thankfully I have not lost anyone close to me with heart disease or stroke," he said. "I want to dance with my beautiful new wife, Elizabeth, on our wedding day and raise money for this great cause."

"In 2004, 500,000 women died from heart disease thinking it was a man’s disease," said Stater. "But new statistics out this month indicate the 2004 statistics have been reduced by 26 percent. We have saved 672,000 women’s lives since 2004."

Stater added that the Go Red for Women program in Utah receives $6 million a year for research work done at the University of Utah Medical Center, out of the $37.5 million that is received nationally.

"November is the month we celebrate stewardship and the many gifts God has given us," said Hurley. "I can’t think of a better example of stewardship than the team and all the volunteers who have made this luncheon possible."