O'Connell Superdance Raises $150,000 for Medical Research

By Alfonso Aguilar
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 3/13/03)

ARLINGTON — Bishop O’Connell High School’s Superdance raised $150,000 during its annual event held last Saturday on behalf of people suffering from cystic fibrosis, a fatal illness that has particularly touched the lives of faculty and students of this Arlington school.

Event coordinators said that the total amount does not include other donations to be received in the days ahead. So far, the school has collected more than $2.2 million through this event since 1976. The funds have always been donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, whose mission is to find a cure, control the disease and to improve the quality of life for those afflicted.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation estimates that over 30,000 people suffer from the illness, which is considered the number one genetic killer of children and adults in the country. Nearly 40 percent of victims are under 18 years of age. The median age of survival is 31.

Many O’Connell students are aware of those statistics, as two former students died before reaching that age, between 1974 and 1978. They were sophomore Brenda and senior Maura O’Donnell, two sisters whose brother Sean also was a victim of the illness.

The death of Brenda stunned and mobilized the whole school in hopes of helping to find a cure for the fatal disease. Thus, the first Superdance was organized in 1976 under the leadership of former principal Msgr.James W. McMurtrie. Since then, every year students come to the Superdance —12 continuous hours of dancing where every hour of dance is sponsored by new pledges.

The Superdance is now the largest school fundraising effort for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a day when almost all students participate, dancing and dancing, as if any step, turn or song were a hope for those suffering the illness. And indeed, they are.

Superdance 2003 attracted a very good turn out, said Coordinators Musgrove Cunningham and Jeanine Megham. Between 90 and 95 percent of the total school enrollment of 1,450 showed up last Saturday at the school gym.

Most of them were wearing the official T-shirt of the celebration, in white emblazoned with the image of a rock musician in boxing gloves and the words "O’Connell’s Against Cystic Fibrosis." Other groups chose tie-dyed pink T-shirts and shorts in different colors.

At the beginning the shirts were pristine, but little by little they turned into collages filled with expressions, jokes and messages of friendship, enthusiasm and personal appreciation, like "Rock Out," "Hit It," "Hug Me," and "Don’t Mess with Me."

Everybody was enjoying the celebration either as coordinators, volunteers or dancers, but it was clear up to 6 p.m. that girls outnumbered the boys on the dance floor.

"Well, it seems that boys need more time to warm up," said Spanish teacher Marisela Zack.

Brian Wilson and Albert Nomorosa, among others, didn’t need too much time to show their energy and dancing skills since they started around 3 p.m. and were prepared to go until the Superdance ended at midnight. Dancers Joey Sadler and Maren Davis also were ready to go to the end. Most of the participants responded with similar sentiments.

"I came with the idea of 12 to 12, with no excuse because this is fun and on behalf of people suffering the illness," said Nina Benedicto when rock band 33 West finished one song. The guitarist was still flying in the air enjoying huge applause from the young and enthusiastic audience.

Musical Bands and DJs changed hour by hour, from noon to midnight. Exactly at 3:55 p.m., volunteer Jackie Heppes confirmed that the amount had jumped to $65,000. Then $80,000, later to $100,000 and finally the sum was $150,000.

After 28 years of hard work, O’Connell hopes that their efforts will contribute to finding a cure soon to treat cystic fibrosis, also known "65 Roses." The name originated in the ‘60s, when a desperate mother was making many phone calls to call attention to this disease affecting 4-year-old son, who understood that her mother was working for 65 Roses.

"Yes, Richard, I am working for 65 Roses," she said crying.

Since then, "65 Roses" are used to identify and symbolize victims of the disease. And the rose has become the symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  

Copyright ©2003 Arlington Catholic Herald.  All rights reserved.