Dancing With the Stars Fundraiser... 

Several weeks ago, a South Florida Dance Instructor, Chris Hemmer was in a very bad car accident on his way to Ft. Myers to teach workshops the next day and to help a friend set up a sound system in her dance studio. Another vehicle crossed the median directly into Chris’s path.  Chris tried to avoid them but just did not have enough time. On a lonely stretch of highway in South Florida, Chris was unconscious and injured very badly.  When Vicki, Chris’s girlfriend, had not heard from him, she started out looking for him.  She found the scene of the accident in Belle Glade and was told Chris was air rescued to West Palm Beach, to a trauma hospital specializing in head and neck injuries.  It seems that when the other vehicle rolled up onto Chris’s pickup truck, the windshield came down upon Chris.  Chris had to be cut out of his vehicle. Chris was, fortunately, wearing his seat belt.
 
Chris is a valued member of our dance community. Since the accident Chris has been in intensive care and on a respirator. His road to recovery will be physically & financially exhausting.

Chris has had surgery to repair his three broken vertebrae in his neck, one of which burst. His broken leg is healing as well as the many cuts, bruises and lacerations to his head, arms and hands.  He continues to make progress every day. Needless to say Chris' recovery period will be extensive and during that time he will be unable to work.  Chris is a full time dance instructor.  There have been a number of groups holding dances and fundraisers for Chris. The Tampa Bay Classic has a fundraiser, a tradition that was started in Nashville 5 years ago, by Dance America. We have decided that this year all funds that are contributed by the dancers at the Tampa Bay Classic during our Dancing With The Stars fundraiser, will be donated to the Chris Hemmer Recovery Fund. We hope that you will be generous in your contributions while you are dancing with Jordan, Tatiana, Robert, Deborah, Robert & Nicola, Parker & Jessica and all of the 31professional dancers on our staff.   

           Get Well Chris and Dance Always!