When Heritage Middle School lets out for the day, Principal Chris Lusk likes to celebrate by listening to music with students while they wait for their parents. People thought so highly of his fresh dance moves, they nominated him to participate in the second annual Dancing Stars of North Georgia, he said.
The judges seemed to agree with those who had nominated him, sending him home with the judges’ trophy on Jan. 28.
But the real winner, Lusk said, was the Alzheimer’s Association, which raised $120,000 through the fundraiser – $25,000 more than the previous year. Lusk helped raise $6,500 of this year’s total
“Any time you can do something to help make a difference, you have to do that,” he said. “I’m privileged and honored to be able to help.”
Although Lusk hasn’t been personally affected by a loved one with the disease, he knows many others in the community who haven’t been as fortunate. After he accepted his role in the event, he said, people stopped him on the street to tell him how much they appreciated him being part of the fundraiser because they’d lost a loved one from the illness.
Nancy Whaley, organizer of the event, said nearly all of the money raised will be staying in North Georgia.
“They recognize we need to take care of people here at home,” she said of the national organization. “A small portion will go to research, but almost all of it will be used for programs and services for families of those living with Alzheimer’s disease.”
The community impact was evident inside The Colonnade as well, where the event was held. Whaley said the Ringgold venue was completely packed for the night of the competition, with well over 700 people in attendance, including volunteers, staff and participants. Tickets sold out over a month prior to the event.
While the focus of the night was clearly on awareness and fundraising, Lusk said all of the contestants felt a bit of competition to put on a good show. Four months of preparation with his partner Letisha Deal, a dance instructor in Ringgold, went into their routine.
“I was genuinely surprised and humbled that I won,” he said. “It felt like we hit everything right in our routine, and that’s all you can do.”
Lusk has had a bit of fun with his trophy, too, taking it with him to restaurants and teacher training sessions as though it were the Stanley Cup.
As to whether he will dance in next year’s competition, Lusk said he will have to wait and see. But until then, he said he hopes people will continue to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, even though the competition is over.
“It’s important to keep up the awareness,” he said.
For more information about the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, visit alz.org/georgia.