Teen Organizes Third Annual Dance-A-Thon For MDA

For the third year in a row, Katie Sharnick is planning a Dance-a-Thon to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In the first two years, 20 to 30 dancers participated. “There’s no presignup,” Katie said, “so we won’t know how many dancers we’ll have until the day of the event.”

On Saturday, July 15, Katie and other students from The Gray School of Irish Dance in Newtown will step onto the dance floor for a good cause. They will raise money for MDA with the support of sponsors who pay the dancers for each hour they participate in the Dance-a-Thon. The Dance-a-Thon will take place at The Gray School of Irish Dance, which is owned by Katie’s mother, Iris Gray Sharnick. The marathon event is scheduled to begin at 8 am, continuing all day Saturday until 11:30 pm.

Katie, a Newtown resident, has been dancing since the age of 3. Now 17 years old, Katie is an accomplished dancer, having traveled extensively to compete in numerous Irish dance competitions. She will be a senior at Immaculate High School in Danbury in the fall.

The initial inspiration for the Dance-a-Thon occurred a few years ago. After hearing her aunt talk about MDA’s annual Telethon, Katie was intrigued by MDA’s work. “I thought it was a great cause. I realized that dancing and everything I do every day involves so much activity, and it really struck me that people can’t do these things,” Katie explains. With the Dance-a-Thon, Katie has found her own way to contribute to MDA’s continuing fight against neuromuscular disease.

The Dance-a-Thon has had great success for MDA in its first two years. In 2004, the event raised $3,600, with Katie dancing for 24 hours straight. The following year, with hours limited to 8 am until 11 pm, the devoted dancers raised more than $2,000 during their all-day Dance-a-Thon.

This year, Katie says they have set a goal of $5,000. The dancers are looking forward to the 2006 Dance-a-Thon. “Everybody feels like they’re really helping out,” she says, “Everybody has a great time, especially the little kids. It’s a great experience.”

The money raised in the 2006 Newtown Dance-a-Thon will be donated to the local office of MDA, which provides programs and services to people throughout Fairfield County in Connecticut and Westchester County in New York. Proceeds from the Dance-a-Thon will directly benefit local people living with neuromuscular diseases.

Anyone interested in donating to the upcoming Dance-a-Thon should contact The Gray School of Irish Dance at 270-7001.

MDA is a voluntary health agency that forges partnerships among scientists, health care professionals and concerned citizens aimed at finding treatments and cures for more than 40 neuromuscular diseases that affect a million Americans. MDA’s area programs include its upcoming Summer Camp in Spring Valley, N.Y., which will welcome 75 kids with neuromuscular diseases from all across the tri-state area. For more information on MDA and its programs, call the local office at 914-345-5062 or visit mdausa.org.