Dance-a-thon tops $2,000 for tsunami relief

There were a few stiff joints and aching muscles when students turned up at Crossroads School in Devlin for class Monday, but there were no complaints from either them or their teachers.
About 45 students in Grade 4-8 students spent 12 hours Saturday dancing (and in some cases tumbling) in the gym to raise money for the victims of the Boxing Day tsunami in South Asia.
And when it was all over at 10 p.m., more than $2,000 was in the coffers—with more pledges still coming in yesterday.
“I’m pleased to say that once again our community came through and showed their generosity,” said Crossroads teacher Jeff Johnston, who supervised the dance-a-thon.
Johnston said there will be still more money coming in thanks to the efforts of the junior students (Grades 1-3), who pitched in by making goodies for the canteen cart which will be on sale this weekend when the school hosts a boys’ basketball tournament.
All proceeds will be turned over to the International Red Cross.
Johnston made a point of acknowledging the role played by the McDonald’s Restaurant in Fort Frances, which contributed snacks and drinks to fuel the kids over their 12-hour marathon.
“McDonald’s [was] a big help,” he remarked, noting it also donated prizes such as caps, mugs, and T-shirts.
“Most of the kids won a prize,” Johnston said.
As well, most of the kids stayed on past the four-hour minimum goal they had set for themselves. Johnston said 25 students went the distance and danced from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The event was funded by the students’ activity fund.
Johnston paid particular tribute to several students who were primarily responsible for organizing the dance-a-thon, including Ashlee Nordstrom, Laura Richardson, Wendel Smith, and the student council.
In addition, a number of parents took shifts as chaperones throughout the day and into the evening.
All in all, Johnston said it was a worthwhile effort and something a little different—and all for a good cause.
“It gets the students involved much more than just collecting donations,” he reasoned.