Dance so that children with cancer can survive

Mary Beth Dever laughs just thinking about how much dancing she’ll be doing at this year’s Valentine’s Day dance —- or not.

The point is she’ll be there trying to make a difference, hoping any moves she and her husband John make will help propel researchers that much closer to a cure for childhood cancer.

Dever knows what it’s like when that word —- cancer —- suddenly slips off the lips and into your world.

Her son Sean was 11 years old when doctors told them he had osteosarcoma, a malignant bone cancer that usually develops during adolescence.

Dever wouldn’t wish that on her worst enemy, not to mention a child.

“Children are our hope, our future,” said Dever. “And you love them so much.”

Love.

It’s why the Marietta couple will be at Saturday’s CURE Childhood Cancer Valentine dinner/dance. It’s their way of saying thank you to those who danced before them and made it possible for other parents of children with cancer to enjoy the fruits of their labor, perhaps, in another 20 years.

“Sean has benefited from the years of fund-raising,” she said. “That’s why he is able to walk today.”

Now in its 21st year, the annual Valentine’s dinner/dance started the way a lot of good things do. A group of friends saw a need and wanted to help.

Mary Fellers, dance chairwoman, said they were all members of the Snellville Chapter (Theta Sigma) of Beta Sigma Phi, an international service organization, who went about doing small fund-raisers and activities like arts and crafts for children in cancer wards.

Then one of their daughters was diagnosed with leukemia and, well, that made cancer personal.

It was 1988 and as Valentine’s Day approached, the friends decided to host a dance.

A few dozen people showed up that night and donated about $500 to CURE Childhood Cancer, a local nonprofit dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through research, education and support.

“It just mushroomed after that,” Fellers said.

For the past 10 years, they have been packing the Gwinnett Place Marriott to the tune of nearly 400 people and raising close to $50,000 a year.

Fellers is worried the group may see another drop in donations this year because of the economy but she said in all, they’ve raised more than $1 million.

“It’s a labor of love for us to put this thing on because most of the money goes toward research,” said Fellers.

Less than 2 percent of federal funding for cancer research is directed toward childhood cancers, said Kristin Connor, executive director of CURE. The rest goes toward adult cancer research.

And yet each year in this country, Connor said 12,500 children —- 360 in Georgia —- are diagnosed with cancer, the leading cause of death by disease in children.

Mary Beth Dever wants to make sure other children get the same opportunity for a cure as Sean.

On Oct. 3, 2007, the day before Sean’s leg was amputated, the Devers were at the University of Florida Medical Center having dinner. This time tomorrow Sean will be cancer free, John Dever declared that day as the family hoisted their glasses into the air.

Today, Sean is 13 and is doing well.

So there you have it. Mary Beth Dever is more than a little grateful, but she won’t be through dancing until every child gets a cure for cancer.

CHARITY DANCE

6 p.m. Saturday

Gwinnett Place Marriott, 1775 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth.

Tickets: $85 per person

Information: CURE Childhood Cancer, 770-986-0035; Kristin@curechildhoodcancer.org

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