The Pole Dancing Shop

Everywhere you look, there is a cause waiting to be supported.  Some of you receive daily requests from friends walking to support the fight against ALS or MS.  Some of you may have family members battling cancer or other disease.  Supporting their cause is a no-brainer.  But what if you aren't close to someone with a cause to support?

Look to your pole sisters. In my own life, I have two pole sisters fighting different battles.

Rita is my good friend and partner in crime.  She goes to Twirly Girls Pole Fitness in Pleasanton, California with me and is always ready for a fun time.  Rita is a three-time kidney transplant recipient.  In her honor, Twirly Girls holds the Lovely Rita Fundraiser each April.  The money benefits the National Kidney Foundation, and we then do a 5k walk in San Francisco each May.  The fundraiser is always a lot of fun -- sometimes including classes and workshops for a day, but always a raffle with amazing prizes donated by generous local businesses and a dance recital with all of the girls from Twirly Girls.  It gives us an opportunity to showcase our new pole moves in the name of a good cause.  Last year, we started doing a calendar starring our Twirly Girls, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to the National Kidney Foundation.  The Pole Dancing Shop has been a generous sponsor.  We are currently shooting the 2012 calendar and will have copies for sale very soon!

Here is Rita's story in her own words:  "As you may know, I have been blessed thrice with the gift of life in the form of a kidney transplant.  Serious health problems affects the lives of not just the person who is sick, but also the lives of those who love them.  To offer an organ to someone in need changes the lives of many. I ask for your support to help make the miracle happen for the next family. Please donate what you can today.  Every penny helps."

Due to her multiple surgeries, Rita takes medications so that her body won't reject the transplant.  These medications make her feel dizzy and cause a lot of swelling.  She also has scar tissue wreaking havoc on her body and causing her a lot of pain.  She has arthritis in her fingers and so some days the pole moves don't come quite as easy, however, she twirls a lot better than I can!  Regardless, Rita is always full of smiles and ready to learn a new pole move.  I am always inspired by her positivity and ability to work through the pain.  

Another pole sister, Tracey, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  Tracey takes pole dance classes at Poletential in Redwood City, California.  Her pole family has really come together to make sure Tracey gets to her chemotherapy appointments and that her children are getting to and from school or being cared for when Tracey needs time to rest.  It is so touching to see the amount of support given to her by her family at Poletential.  

The ladies of Poletential have set up a Zumba FUNdraiser for Tracey in mid-October.  This money will go directly to Tracey to help her with healthcare costs.  However, once Tracey is in recovery mode, it sounds like she will be supporting the American Cancer Society's Make Strides to End Breast Cancer.  Here is a posting about Tracey on The Girl Spot's team page : "It's very hard to define myself now. Am I really that different from who I was a few months ago? Yes. I have only had 4 months to embrace my new status. Beast cancer fighter seems like the best term. I am 32, a mother. I work, I dream, I embrace, I create, I write, I learn and now I fight. I was diagnosed with breast cancer this year. I have had my bi-lateral mastectomy. I just finished my chemo cycles and my next phase will be finishing up reconstruction. I am juggling my life, trying to maintain normalcy, figuring out the limits of my body, taking in the cancer drugs and learning how to survive. I am so thankful that I have an amazing team, a team of doctors and a team of supporters. Clearly, this fight takes a village. I did not expect this, this cancer. I don't know if anyone does when they hear the news. It's a very tough pill to swallow but the only I option I see available is to fight and soon I hope to add survivor to my story."

These are just two stories in my own life -- friends who are in need of my help.  Please look around you and see if you can host an event at your studio -- have fun, laugh, love each other and support the causes that mean the most to you.

Do you want to become a guest blogger? The Pole Dancing Shop now offers $20 store credit for approved post, articles and stories!