Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Rowan Wagner, 12, of Hurley waits tables at the spaghetti fundraiser dinner held by the Citrus Bowl Dancers Saturday at the Bessemer VFW. From left are: Wagner and David Boullion and Sharon Charles both of Hurley.
By KIM E. STROM
Bessemer - The Citrus Bowl Dancers of the Platinum Dance Studio of Bessemer are one step closer to realizing a dream after Saturday's spaghetti fundraiser.
Eight local girls from the dance studio will perform at the Citrus Bowl halftime show in Orlando, Fla. New Year's Day 2020 as the result of a lot of hard work and fundraising.
"We're all pretty close to what we need," said dancer Alexa Jilek of the funds being raised for each girl to go. The last group fundraiser was a pancake breakfast held at the Wakefield VFW on Oct. 20.
"I'm getting excited," said Jilek. "But I think I'm more excited to get out of the snow."
In addition to the halftime show, the girls will be treated to trips to Disneyworld, Universal Studios, and a New Year's Eve party while away.
The spaghetti feed was the last fundraiser the girls will do together as a group. Other efforts included a pasty feed, fudge sales, and other individual fundraising efforts, Jilek said. Besides the VFW allowing the use of its space and facilities, other local businesses and individuals had a hand in donating time, food and baskets to raffle off.
"The main thing is, we are really fortunate and blessed. This community has been really supportive of the girls," said Michele Hearns whose daughter Cheyenne Bull owns the Platinum Dance Studio. "We live in a fantastic community. We're very thankful," she said. Many of the girls have never had this opportunity, Hearns said previously.
Jilek said the dance group recently received the choreography for the half-time show where they will join dozens of other dancers from around the country to perform.
