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Twirl-A-Thon raising money for women's cancer support group

Jen's Academy Dancers will be part of the second annual Perform for a Cure Twirl-A-Thon fundraiser for the Butler Breast Cancer and Women's Cancer Support Group on Oct. 14.

Enthusiasm erupts from Jennifer Dimit Baldacci when she talks about skills of the students in her baton twirling classes at Jen's Academy of Rhythm and Moves and the opportunities twirling can provide for young women.

The only thing slowing her down is talking about the reason she is organizing the second annual Perform for a Cure Twirl-A-Thon fundraiser for the Butler Breast Cancer and Women's Cancer Support Group on Oct. 14.

“I have several people in my family that were affected by breast cancer. Some survived; some didn't,” Dimit Baldacci said.

One of those who did survive is Phyllis Mitchell, the mother of John Mitchell, her partner in Twirl to Fight Cancer, a national nonprofit they founded to help fight cancer and provide prizes for winners of twirling events.

“By the grace of God she is still alive eight years later,” she said.

The Twirl-A-Thon will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in Clearview Mall's center court near her studio the day after the support group holds its 10th annual Women's Health and Wellness Fair.

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Following the Twirl-A-Thon, Dimit Baldacci will draw the winners of a basket raffle that benefits the support group. A basket auction, T-shirt sales and a 50/50 raffle also are planned.

Half of the proceeds will be donated to the support group and the other half will go to Twirl to Fight Cancer.

Perform for a Cure is a Pennsylvania nonprofit organization Dimit Baldacci founded that she hopes to expand to raise money for people with special needs and other diseases and disorders.

For now, her focus is on the Twirl-A-Thon that will feature her students, those from other dance studios, and an 18-month-old twirler. About 50 girls and young women are expected to compete including former University of Pittsburgh twirlers and majorettes.

One twirler will juggle swords and some twirl four batons simultaneously.

“We take over all of center court. We will be awarding over $2,000 in cash prizes to our Twirl-A-Thon winners for them to take back to their hometowns for cancer charities,” Dimit Baldacci said.

Contestants will be coming from all over the country.

Cancer patients and survivors will be recognized and given flowers during a ceremony, she said.

The event is also meant to inspire young women to use their skills for good causes.“It's for children to use their talents to be good citizens. It gives them a more passionate reason to practice. Some kids do solos for a parent or grandparent with cancer. Performing arts are a good emotional outlet for children,” Dimit Baldacci said. “It's awesome for them to use their talents to help deal with the loss of a loved one.”It's a big show and some of the girls get nervous before they perform, but she has a way to alleviate the jitters. “I say, God's going to show up and show off through you. You'll see their heart and soul left on that stage. It brings the toughest dad to tears,” she said.Baton twirling competitions are held around the world through different organizations. Dimit Baldacci said the organizations are close to agreeing on a single set of rules. Once that is done, twirling will become an Olympic event, she said.Major universities such as Penn State and UCLA offer full scholarships for baton twirling, she added.People unable to attend the Twirl-A-Thon can donate through www.paypal.me/performforacure.

Jen's Academy owner Jennifer Dimit Baldacci hosts the Twirl to Fight Cancer along with John Mitchell.

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