Popular Little Rock event brings the ballroom to Bentonville for the 2nd Year to Raise Money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation
On December 2, 2022, the 2nd annual Northwest Arkansas ‘Dancing with Our Stars’ Gala will take place at the 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville, AR. A spin-off of the popular annual dance competition that has taken place in Little Rock since 2006, ‘Dancing with Our Stars’ brings together local celebrities, professional dancers, and NF Heroes for a one-night ballroom competition to raise money and awareness for neurofibromatosis research. NF Heroes as those who have demonstrated remarkable courage and a positive spirit living with NF.
The Northwest Arkansas stars vying for a chance to take home the coveted mirror ball trophy are:
Jeremy Bobo, Owner and Social Media Specialist, District 21
Cody Duley, Realtor(r) and Co-Owner, The Duley Group (with Keller Williams Market Pro Realty)
Tara Gartman, Vice President, Retail Development at Paramount Global
Brandon Munson, Owner, Munson Chiropractic
Lindy O'Neal, Veterinarian, Animal Medical Clinic
Thai Trower, Head of Global AML and Sanctions Operations, Google, Inc
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and may lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer. It affects millions of people worldwide and may arise in any family regardless of gender, race, or ethnic origin. While the FDA approved the first-ever treatment, Koselugo (selumetinib), for inoperable plexiform neurofibromas in 2020, there is no cure at this time. This creative fundraiser is one way we are working to change that.
“It is wonderful to be associated with a cause that has the ability to impact the lives of so many children and adults in our community and on a national scale,” said committee co-chair Malorie Marrs. “It's been exciting to be on the ground floor as CTF has grown its presence in Northwest Arkansas. The mission is something everyone can get behind, and the event is fresh, fun, and exciting.”
“For the past eight years, I have been inspired to support multiple nonprofit organizations in Northwest Arkansas,” said Jeremy Bobo. “When Malorie Marrs recommended me to be a Star this year, I was happy to accept and support the Children’s Tumor Foundation in reaching their fundraising goals. More awareness and funding mean more children are helped, and that means a lot to my wife and me.”
For the second year, the NWA dance competition fundraiser features a cocktail reception, seated dinner, silent auction, and dancing. Last year, $100,000 was raised, contributing to the $3 million dollars raised and invested in the Arkansas community over the last 26 years. Money raised at this year’s event will support the first-ever adult disciplinary pilot clinic at the University of Arkansas.
For more information or to purchase your virtual ticket or sponsorship, please visit ctf.org/dwosnwa.
About the Children’s Tumor Foundation
The Children’s Tumor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding effective treatments for the millions of people worldwide living with neurofibromatosis (NF), a term for three distinct disorders: NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. NF causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and may lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer. NF affects 1 in every 3,000 births across all populations equally. There is one approved drug for the treatment of inoperable plexiform neurofibromas, a subset of the NF1 patients. The Children’s Tumor Foundation’s mission of driving research, expanding knowledge, and advancing care for the NF community fosters our vision of one day ending all manifestations of NF.
