Dancers, tutors, diners, inspirers all part of Friday night

Sold out. Sweet music to the ears of Charlene Myke, organizer of this years Dancing With the Stars For Easter Seals. With a financial goal of $55,000 for the evening, a sold out notice is a guarantee that the target will be met.

And here’s why it matters, quite simply. Easter Seals chapters like Simcoe County’s support kids like Lucas and Zane Braun to go to summer camp. The organization also funds prosthetic limbs, mobility devices… medical treatments and transportation.

But camp is a big thing when you’re three feet tall and 13 years old. Lucas is a spokesman for Easter Seals and he and his brother, Zane, have Morquio Syndrome, a condition that affects muscle, tissue and limbs. But not brains, that’s for sure. These are two very bright kids, Zane and Lucas. Zane is 11.

In fact, Zane could be a standup comic, and does a very funny routine where he imitates people trying to not look at him and his brother.

Summer camp is the only place where people don’t stare at the Braun boys, because everyone at an Easter Seals camp is the same… they’re all different. The two boys, who live with their mom, Debbie, and two sisters, love camp because they’re normal there. It’s a two-week relief from their every day life.

And Jason Crone… well Jason is an inspiration in his own right. As a 15 year old defenceman playing minor hockey, he was checked from behind into the boards and suffered a broken neck. But athletes are athletes and Jason took up wheelchair rugby and true to the rugby documentary, Murderball, Jason has become a successful Olympian, competing with the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby team.

These three icons are the main attraction at the Dancing event at Liberty North tomorrow night. A fundraiser with a silent auction, and entertaining emcees and dancers, this event promises to hit its financial goal, and more!

Emcees for the evening are Tim Sample and Ron Hoggarth.

Judges are Mayor Jeff Lehman, MP Patrick Brown, and Writer Donna Douglas (that’s me!)

Dancers are Ryan Krelove from Investors Group (dancing with Diane Senneville); Laurie Ferragine of Bradford Green Houses (with Blair Campbell); Drew Dekker of Netgain SEO (with Linda Komac); Carey Moran from Kicx FM (with Dieter Fruehwirth); Jeff Mitchell from JC Mitchell Insurance (with Kathy Kraft); Galina Johnston from Investors Group (with Ben Yang); Blair Smith of Century 21 (with Cynthia Cole); Melanie Case from Rogers TV (with Francois McKean).

It’s a Latin and Salsa theme and dancing instructor Norbert Wunn has had his hands full.

Diamond sponsors are Investors Group Barrie York Simcoe and Century 21 BJ Roth. None of it would be possible without help from the Barrie Colts and Liberty North banquet facility. In fact, Liberty owner Stella Gan was the overall winner of last year’s event, dancing with Norbert Wunn.

It absolutely promises to be a tear filled night… tears of joy and tears of straight, raw, emotion after meeting the evening’s heroes… Luke and Zane Braun and Jason Crone.

What an evening! What an army of volunteers making it happen!