Central Michigan University - Chippewa Yearbook (Mount Pleasant, MI)

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SUPERDANCE: Self-abuse can be fun ith shining eyes and shaking knees. a CMU student presented Jerry Lewis with a check for 532,762 at the Muscular Dystrophy telethon Labor Day weekend. That money was raised for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. through Superdance. a 24 hour dance-a-thon held in Rose gymnasium April lO-l l, CMU students took in pledge money for each hour they danced. Through the efforts of the dancers. Central was the seventh largest contributor of all universities that raised money for MDA. Maureen Gamache, Superdance chairperson, was the student who represented CMU, Mount Pleasant and all of the Superdancers before the 93 million people who watched last years telethon. While Gamache and her committee members were not actually dancers. they were at the dance-a-thon, keeping people hyped and moving. According to Gamache, everyone who helped with the planning of the Superdance was hard- working and dedicated. The 800 dancers were much the same. Dancing for 24 hours straight can be a gruelling, painful, exhausting experience. as Cindy Hunter. Rochester junior discovered. She described the dance in chronological sequence. At first, when the dance began at 7 p.m., people were excited, energetic, and happy to be a part of the event. Dancers punked out. wildly jumped up and down, and ran circles around each other. By about 3 am., a subtle, slow change had occured. The overall energy levels of dancers had declined. until they were limply shaking their limbs instead of bouncing off the walls. People started trying to nap during the l5 minute breaks allowed every hour. Five or 6 a.m. was the hardest time, Hunter said. Jill Edwards, Milford junior, agreed. lt was the worst time, she said. She explained that the dance was halfway over, but it seemed like it would never end. Energy levels scraped rock bottom. Feet barely shuffled, heads barely bobbed in time to the music. But once that part was over, dancers seemed to slowly forget about being tired. Now they just wanted to finish. As the end approached, ripples of excitement and feelings of happiness raced through the dancers. In the last l5 minutes, people screamed, cheered and gave their all to the last dance. lt was great to watch everyone, Edwards said. She noted a feeling of unity among the dancers. An example of that unity was hot-. all rg-t the dancers danced in groups. 'That lwpt exeryones spirits up, Edwards said. Another thiriij that kept the dancers going was tn - entertainment that the I8 Superdarrce Superdance committee provided. During some of the breaks in the dance, a juggler, belly dancer. and modern dancers performed. There were several different bands which provided all the dancing music as well as entertainment. Along with breaks of I5 minutes out of every hour, every fourth hour the dancers had a half hour break. During some of the longer breaks. food was served. McDonalds, a national sponsor of MDA. provided all the meals at the dance. The food was desperately needed to keep up the dancers' strength. Every hour, the Superdance Committee Wlth a crowd of 800 dancers, students unite during the seventh largest Superdance in the nation. Crowd participation helped to keep everyone going during the 24 hour foot Stomper. With the lack of sleep and food catching up with them, Denise Germaine and Mike Perry pair up and support each other, trying to make it to the end. Taking a needed break, Rob Beuchner and Cheryl Kohs sack out for a few minutes. Dancers were allowed to take I5 minute breaks every hour. posted how much money the dancers had raised so far, which also helped keep spirits and energy levels high. Chairperson Gamache was overjoyed at the final amount of money raised. All universities raising more than 520.000 were presented at the telethon. and she was proud that CMU was honored. Ciamache knows firstehand how much the money is appreciated by patients who have muscular dystrophy. When she went to Las Vegas to do the telethon. she met several patients and their families. These experiences made her want to keep on raising money. When you see where the money goes. and how much it helps. you just want to keep on raising more, she explained. Gamache feels that helping others is personally rewarding. As dancer Cindy Hunter said, lt was one of the hardest things l've ever done. hut it was worth it. Sue Campbell 55'--Q S .Q- Sleuen C. Jessmore

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011539 W N.. S N l l l l Steven C. Jessmore C Jtissriiort' Getting a couple of helping hands, a first- time skier shows her enthusiasm for the sport. Despite snow and cold temperatures, feelings of cooperation and goodwill kept spirits high, Thumbs up to Special O! This competitors expression seems to reflect the general feeling that the event was a big suc- cess, A special olympian is congratulated bv friends after receiving a first place medal, Waiting for the bang of the starter s pistol. a young skier crouches in anticipation. The Olympics were held at Sugarloaf Ski Resort in Traverse Citv. Spt-vial OftJI7ll7lH s-Pl .lt

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