HARRINGTON PARK — Dancing along to "Don’t Stop Believing" by Journey, Harrington Park sixth-graders generated more than $10,000 during a dance-a-thon in honor of a classmate who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
The four-hour long dance-a-thon Feb. 1 benefited classmate Sarah Burstein, who is undergoing knee cancer treatment. Sarah was diagnosed with cancer in September, sparking a communitywide reaction.
"Everyone wanted to do something, but didn’t actually know what to do," said sixth-grader Josh Gonzalez, remembering the moment he and his classmates learned that Sara was sick.
Gonzalez said that during an autumn apple-picking trip he and his friends Ryan Calabrese and Nick Antonucci began brainstorming ideas. Having just attended a middle school dance, said mother Sonja Calabrese, dancing was "fresh on their [the boy’s] minds."
It was not long before the brainstorming session quickly bore fruit of its own.
Armed with the idea of a dance-a-thon fundraiser, the three boys then approached Principal Brian Gatens for permission to use the All-Purpose Room for the event. They wrote letters to the Board of Education and canvassed local businesses for donations and services.
Nearby businesses, such as the Morning Glory and Blue Tulip stores in Closter, willingly doled out gift cards and baskets to be raffled at the event. Calabrese said that unlike the "typical dance-a-thon," many felt moved to help the local child.
"With entertainment, as luck would have it, the owners [of Total Entertainment] know the Bursteins," added Calabrese. "So, their services were all donated too."
The boys set a goal of $3,000 to donate to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where Sarah is receiving her treatment. By the night of the dance-a-thon, the 74 participating sixth-graders had amassed $9,500 in pledges.
An extra $500 came from spectator tickets sold at the door, raffle and Harrington Park Spartan accessory sales, Calabrese said.
"I knew that Harrington Park was the kind of town that takes care of its kids – as soon as people found out about Sarah," said Gatens. Although, he said that he had not expected such an outpouring in donations.
Quartered off in the APR room, the sixth-graders practiced a few line-dances, learned some Scottish dance steps and got down low to Flo Rider’s "Get Low." Members of the eighth-grade student council also came to motivate the students. And when Total Entertainment arrived with sunglasses and T-shirts as give-away prizes, the students flocked to the stage.
The three boys danced non-stop, wearing white T-shirts decorated with the words "Dance-a-thon" and embellished with messages from friends.
Sarah, who received a giant signed poster from the sixth-grade, watched the dancing from the sidelines.
"We [also] gave her $100 to the Melting Pot in Westwood," Ryan said.
Parent volunteers handed out pizza, cookies and drinks donated from Rudy’s Ristorante and Pizza and McDonald’s in Closter. A few parents found their way to the dance floor, finding the music too hard to resist.
The principal said that even as the night wore on and the dancers grew tired, the students were still "models of behavior."
"I think that it bonded them as a group and that was a side goal of having an opportunity where amongst themselves they can do something good," said Gatens. "They’re such a pleasure."
The principal thought the dance-a-thon was perhaps "one of the best nights I have ever had."
The three boys agreed.
"We want to make this an annual event," Nick said.
"Well, it will take about a year to recover," said his mother jokingly.
E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711
