Readers Report
"Getting Physical" for a Cure
The Werdiger Family Hall rocked and swayed to the rhythm of 1000 women dancing the night away in an evening organized to raise funds for breast cancer research. “If you can walk, you can dance” was the theme of the annual Dance for a Cure which took place this Sunday night as dance instructors led the enthusiastic crowd through the synchronized movements of Line Dancing, African Dancing, Israeli dancing, Simcha Dancing, Belly Dancing and more.
Celebrity guest and breast cancer survivor Olivia Newton-John spoke of her experience with this difficult and deadly disease and congratulated the organizing committee for a wonderful event which brought together women and girls of all ages. She made reference to the sensational hall décor by commenting that she hasn’t seen so much pink since being a member of the Pink Ladies in her internationally acclaimed film “Grease”!
Dr. Paula Hansky OAM representing the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute thanked the participants for their concern and generosity and said that the search for a cure for breast cancer is continuing with trials that hold great promise for the near future.
An emotional highlight of the evening was the Bat Mitzvah presentation made by Romy Sachwald. Romy’s mother Claudine is a survivor of breast cancer and a member of the organizing committee. In an evening where the community of women came together to combat the disease that presents an indiscriminate threat, over $25,000 was raised to support breast cancer clinical trials at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute.