CRESTVIEW — Dr. Wanda Batson says the decision to dance during Covenant Hospice's Oct. 4 Blue Jean Ball came easy.
Fred Astaire Dance Studio owner David Colón just asked her.
“My friend, David, asked me if I’d be willing to help out with the hospice fundraiser,” Batson said. “My answer was, ‘Of course.’"
Initially, she thought he meant financial assistance or volunteering.
When Colón said, “Oh, by the way…,” she realized he meant being one of four sponsored, celebrity dancers.
Now, she's practicing for the big night.
DANCING STAR
With a recording of Frank Sinatra crooning “Nice and Easy,” Colón whirled her around his dance studio on Wednesday as they perfected their routine.
Batson joins Stephanie Overstreet, Joel Davis and Dr. Khalid Moussa, who with their Fred Astaire professional partners are learning new dance steps — or how to dance at all — while raising money for Covenant.
Judges will critique their dancing skill, the audience's enthusiasm and how much money they raise.
Covenant organizers have set a $12,000 target for this year’s Dancing with the Crestview Stars segment, a $2,000 increase from last year’s donations.
“I’ll be harassing loved ones — with love,” Batson said of her fundraising technique.
She also plans to solicit donations through her Facebook page and through an online donation site she has yet to set up.
A SERIOUS CAUSE
Though she jokes about how Colón “voluntold” her to join the effort, her support for Covenant Hospice — which provides free end-of-life care for needy patients — is serious.
“Every family I know has been affected by cancer, so I’ll just ask them for money,” Batson said.
She believes in Covenant Hospice's service to terminally ill patients and families trying to cope with a loved one’s illness and impending death.
“If you emotionally can’t be there for support, hospice is,” Batson said. “It’s a whole level of care you have to have. Covenant Hospice provides that whole level of compassion you need to have.
The “Arabian Nights”-themed Blue Jean Ball, benefiting Covenant Hospice, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive.
Tickets cost $60 each and are available at Covenant Hospice, 4100 Ferdon Blvd. S.; by phone, 682-3628; or at www.covenanthospice.org.
Email News Bulletin Arts Editor Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hospice's 'compassion,' support for patients motivates dancer