THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
DANVILLE — Danville Fire Department Lt. Lester Potts Jr. has been telling those who have been teasing and poking fun at him for participating in Saturday’s Dancing for the Stars that as long as they show up and support the cause, he’s good with all of it.
The almost-25-year firefighter is one of the celebrities taking part in the third annual fundraiser for the Survivor Resource Center at the Fischer Theatre. Potts will be dancing with professional Cassidy Helferich, 21, who has been in dance for much of her life, including ensembles and show choir.
Potts and Helferich are one of the seven pairs who are promising great performances at the event, according to Abby Thompson, the center’s director of survivor services.
The other teams are Greenwood Plastics co-owner Linda Darby and Andrea Troxel; Mad Goat Coffee and Royal Donut owner Sam George and Emily Nardoni; Real-estate agent Hayley Siefert and Ethan Rome; Bloom women’s-clothing boutique owner Carley Strader and Merrit Spicer; speed painter John Jansky and Madison Thompson; and EnvirOx President and majority owner Diana Stewart and Bryan Stewart.
Tickets are $25 for the event, which starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, and can be bought at atthefischer.com/dancing-for-the-stars/.
Survivor Resource Center officials said the evening of fun and dance has local “celebrities” partner with area dance professionals.
The funds raised from the event will assist the center in its mission to provide services to more than 400 clients in Vermilion, Clark and Edgar counties including individual, family, and group counseling; medical advocacy in a hospital emergency department; a 24-hour crisis hotline; legal advocacy in the court system; case-management services and prevention education programs in area schools and the community; and with professional trainings.
The agency is a nonprofit organization funded through grants and fundraisers. This event will make a significant impact to survivors in the community, officials said.
Potts is the third fire department representative to support the cause. Chief Aaron Marcott participated the first event, while Lt. Tim McFadden participated last year.
Potts said he was asked and volunteering to participate.
He said he and Helferich got a late start in practicing, but she had a basis of an idea for their dance, and he was up for it.
He said he came with the mindset that he had some dance experience from his youth.
“It allowed us to make up time,” he said.
Potts said he did a lot of dancing through school events and in his youth, some of which was choreographed.
“I think I probably ended my dancing in my later 20s,” Potts said.
Having just hit 50, he said he’s feeling it now — in his knees and hips, especially.
But he’s proud of their two-to-three-minute routine.
“The big guy has a couple moves,” he said with a laugh.
Potts and Helferich will be having their final practice and walk-through for the fundraising event this week. Saturday will be their first day on the stage to go over the spacing for their dance.
“We cover a lot of ground in this,” Potts said.
He didn’t want to give too much away about their performance.
“We will be dressed modestly, in black and burnt orange,” Potts said.
The music is “upbeat,” he said.
Potts wouldn’t say he’s nervous.
“I’m a little tense on hitting all the moves correctly,” he said. “There’s one part in the dance where I keep going over it in my head.”
He doesn’t want to mess up and make it look bad.
He hopes his supporters, some who have plenty of jokes about him dancing, put their money where their mouth is.
“Make sure you support the project,” he said, encouraging people to show up and donate.
Potts said he just wants to put on a good performance for the crowd and make a lot of money for a good cause.
