By Wayne Allen
The Ohio River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross introduced the 2016 Dancing with our Starts (DWOS) participants to the community on Friday during a annual kickoff event.
The 2016 lineup of DWOS dancers and partners include Rick Ferrell, singer/songwriter, and Kim Paige; Ryan Hall, assistant vice president WesBanco of Jackson, and Rebecca Adkins; Amy Heim, dentist, and Jeremy Slusher; Chris Keeton, family nurse practitioner at King’s Daughters Ohio, and Dianne Coriell; Teresa Martin, local dentist, and Darrell Yeley; Krista Putnam, data coordinator YEI Corp, and Francesca Hartop; Nick Rutman, Rutman Burnside Realty Group, and Autumn Thompson; Ashley Schwamberger, firefighter Portsmouth Fire Dept., and Ladd Dunham; Jessica Suber, plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Southern Ohio Medical Center, and Jared Jenkins; Tim Wells, veterinary technician and the Co-owner of Shawnee Animal Clinic, and Julie Blackburn.
Dancers will spend several months learning a routine, which they will perform at Dancing With Our Stars 2016. They will also be competing to raise the most money for the American Red Cross.
The person who raises the most money between now and the end of the DWOS event will be awarded the fundraising mirror ball trophy.
There are a number of ways the community can help their favorite star, the most important include attending fundraisers and casting a votes. Each vote is in the form of a dollar, which will be donated to the local chapter. Online voting is available at www.crowdrise.com/dwosORV2016.
Funds raised by votes and dancers will support of the Ohio River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross. This funding allow the Red Cross to provide local disaster prevention, preparation, and relief programs. The funding also allows for the continuation of training in first aid, CPR/AED classes as well as a number of other services and programs.
The 2015 DWOS event raised more than $180,000 for the Ohio River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross. Neal Hatcher, a local realtor, was awarded the Fundraising Mirror Ball Trophy by raising $106,000.
The 2016 Dancing with our Stars event will take place at the SOMC Friends Center in Portsmouth on March 19.
In years past, the DWOS event sells out.
Community Executive of the Ohio River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, Debbie Smith, said they are currently trying to sell event sponsorships.
“Right now, we’re selling sponsorships and we’re not sold out. Come the beginning of January, if we have individual seats left, then we can sell them,” Smith said.
For more information about upcoming fundraisers held by the stars, visit orvdwos.weebly.com/blog.
For more information on the organization or event, visit the Ohio River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross on Facebook, or at their offices, located at 1801 Robinson Ave, in Portsmouth, or call 740-354-3293.
Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1933 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT
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The 2016 Dancing with our Starts, dancers and partners.
