April 2021 Volunteer Spotlight

Dance for the Cure
Mar 31, 2021
3 min read

Dance for the Cure Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization. We are proud to recognize two DFC volunteers on our "Basket Genies" team! Meet Donna and Teri...

DFC Volunteer Donna Cease

Donna Cease attended the first two "Ribbons of Hope" events—Dance for the Cure's annual fundraiser—with her mother and sister. At that time she had been in the process of planning her high school reunion and learned that the wife of a classmate had been a recipient of Dance for the Cure's financial assistance that year. Then she noticed a form on the table seeking volunteers and took it as a sign to step up and volunteer. She has loved every minute of being a part DFC organization since then.

Donna delights in working with her fellow volunteers, "Especially on the day of Ribbons of Hope... During set-up, even though we’re working on making the basket presentation perfect, we have lots of laughs doing it! During the designing process, I’m the late shift 'Basket Genie' so on many nights I’m alone at Basket Central (the warehouse where the magic takes place). However, the day shift Genies find ways to make me laugh by leaving a crazy donation at my station, 'shoplifting' things from my stash to use it in their own creations, or by leaving funny notes about a basket I’m working on. We’re like a family."

"There are so many fun memories and beautiful women that I’ve met since volunteering it’s hard to pinpoint just one."

Donna has witnessed family and friends struggle with a cancer diagnosis and understands how financially draining it can be. Seeing the appreciation from recipients of Dance for the Cure's direct financial assistance is a feeling that can’t be described. "When they share their stories, it fills my heart to know we are able to make a difference in their lives during such a difficult time." She also noted that many recipients later become DFC volunteers—yet another indication of just how much families appreciate DFC. Donna explains, "We aren’t curing cancer, but we do ease some of the financial burdens for families whose loved one is going through treatment and that goes a long way toward helping women heal."

DFC Volunteer Teri Halvorson

More than 8 years ago, Teri Halvorson joined the Dance for The Cure cause. She had attended the annual fundraising event, Ribbons of Hope, and immediately realized what a wonderful cause it was—the organization was brimming with caring people who donated their time to support this important cause.

Teri recounts an incident at Basket Central, the location where the gorgeous baskets for the annual event are crafted, "We had received many wonderful donations, one of which was a generous cookware set. I looked at the cookware set and jokingly said 'we need a stove to go with the cookware.' My co-worker then said, 'Let’s make one!' So we proceeded to create a cardboard stove and laughed all along the way as we delightedly added handles, burners, and a tile back splash. It was so much fun."

"As all of us have been touched by cancer, I thought there must be a way to help. There was, and I did!"

Teri realized she could help the community through volunteerism. "This effort is important to ensure the work toward a cure continues and more cancer patients become cancer survivors. Ribbons of Hope, our annual dinner event is attended by survivors, past recipients of DFC's monetary gifts, and supporters who come together to celebrate life," Teri adds. "Each day 'I Believe' the Cure is close at hand."