Dancing for a cause

By Sean O’Brien
News Editor

Every spring Saint Mary’s University students and faculty come together to support a Saint Mary’s University alumnus at the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance.

This year’s dance will be held Saturday, April 12, from 8 p.m. until midnight in the Toner Student Center cafeteria. All funds will benefit Steve Groby ’01.
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The Benefit Dance Committee selected Groby after Katie LaPlant, director of student activities and volunteer services, recommended him as a beneficiary.

Groby of Shakopee, Minn., formerly of Wabasha, Minn., suffers from Chronic Myelomonocyctic Leukemia, the same disease that claimed his father’s life in 1997. Groby’s approach to life is also the center theme for the dance: “Celebrating Life.”

“Steve came up with the idea because he takes yearly trips to Mexico with his family as a way to celebrate his life,” said junior Maria Borgerson and senior Nikki Olson, co-chairs of the Benefit Dance Committee.

The tradition of the dance began in 2001 with its beneficiary Taylor Richmond, the son of Saint Mary’s Campus Ministry and Student Activities staff member Nikki Richmond. The dance was created as a fundraiser to help Taylor reach his dream of traveling to Disney World. This year’s funds will help pay for the costly bone marrow transplant Groby underwent last year.

“We’re really excited to see the campus show up to have some fun and also to show their support for Steve,” said Borgerson.

Tickets, $15 per person or $25 per couple, will be sold April 7-11 at lunch and will also be available at the door. To read Groby’s story go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevegroby.