By Brendan Leverone and Joe Cobb (for The Visor)
It's that time of year again for students of Bishop O'Connell. It's SUPERDANCE!
This year's theme is Band Together for the Cure!
In 1975, sophomore Brenda O'Donnell of Bishop O'Connell died from cystic fibrosis, a disease that builds up mucus in the digestive system and lungs, clogging the lungs and making it hard for one to breathe. Students came up with an event to honor her life and to raise awareness and money for the battle against this deadly disease: Superdance. Since 1975, the O'Connell community and outside sponsors have raised over $4.3 million and counting. Last year's 2018 Superdance raised $155,000. With the continuous support from the O'Connell community, the students continue to churn out dollars upon dollars to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.
This year, Superdance will be held on March 30. Superdance isn't just a regular high school dance. It is a 12 hour dance-a-thon that students plan for over two months, helping to make sure the dance is a success. Superdance has become such a big deal that local restaurants have jumped in to help find a cure. Sponsors such as Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Duck Donuts, and more have helped contribute funds over the past years.
Kyle Leverone, a senior at O'Connell, talked about how Superdance has changed his life saying, "Being a part of Superdance means being a part of something bigger than myself. One of my hockey coaches here at O'Connell, Danny Bessette, has the disease, and with him being so involved with our school and in our hockey program, it makes Superdance so much more personal for me. Also, just being a part of something so big with so many other students makes the event more significant, as I can see the impact it has on the whole school."
Needless to say, Superdance has helped touch the lives of many people, especially in the O'Connell community, and the students of O'Connell are working tirelessly to ensure this one is the best and most beneficial one yet!
For more information and to donate to the cause, visit www.superdance.org.
View video highlights from the March 4 Superdance Assembly below or by CLICKING HERE.