St. Charles N. students groove for a cause
About 75 students got together to dance for 12 hours Saturday at St. Charles North High School to celebrating raising money for Special Olympics.
Their efforts are called "Project Dance," and students in bright orange T-shirts and black shorts danced and spun hula hoops to music in the gym, while others participated in the "Dance, Dance Revolution" video game in the hallway.
"This is actually more of a celebration," said faculty sponsor Shannon Mulder. "The students have already raised the money, and they are turning it in today. They went door-to-door, and they asked their family members and friends to help."
Donations also were being accepted at the event, and sales of T-shirts went to Project Dance. A tally of funds at 4 p.m. Saturday revealed more than $12,000 was raised.
Mulder, who has taught English at St. Charles North for seven years, was involved in Project Dance when she was a student at the University of Iowa.
"We danced for 30 hours and raised money for the Children's Miracle Network and for the pediatric medical unit," Mulder said. "It changed my life, and I wanted the students here to have a chance to do it.
"And the really nice part is we have a lot of Special Olympians at this school, so they know whose lives they are impacting," Mulder added.
Special Olympics is an international organization with local offices that provides sports and athletic competition for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Kelly Verstat, 17, a junior at St. Charles North, said she had raised about $225 by going "canning," or door-to-door asking for donations, and $375 more by writing to friends and family members. It is her third year being involved in Project Dance.
"I love helping people, and this is a great cause," Verstat said. "It makes me happy, and some of our Special Olympians are here."
Special Olympians Steven Mastel, 18, a student at St. Charles North, and R.J. Roark, 18, a student at St. Charles East, were on hand to help celebrate.
"This is awesome," said Mastel, who plays basketball through Special Olympics. Roark is a swimmer.
According to Mulder, it is the fourth year St. Charles North has participated in Project Dance.
"In the first three years, we raised $83,000," Mulder said. "We're hoping that we bring in $17,000 this year so we reach $100,000."