- April 24, 2024
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When fellow dancer Sally Cavender was diagnosed with cancer, her family at The Ballroom in Ormond Beach stepped in to help.
Mention Sally Cavender to anyone at The Ballroom and it will put a smile on their face.
A longtime dancer and member of the club located on Hand Avenue in Ormond Beach, Cavender is known by her dance family as bubbly, positive and always smiling.
"We're the same age in our youthful maturity," Maxine Griswold said. "But I always marvel at how young she looks. She glows when she walks in the room."
Cavender was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Though she hasn't been able to dance, her family at The Ballroom hosted a weekend-long Dance for Sally event, April 25-27, to raise money and help her with hefty medical bills.
"We're hoping to try to make things as nice as possible for as long as possible," Mark Traynor said. "From now until she is better. We want her to know how much she is thought of and cared for by everybody. It's tough not having her out here."
A hairstylist in Daytona Beach, Cavender is starting chemotherapy to try to beat the disease. The support of her friends at The Ballroom is helping with her finances so she can focus on getting better and getting back on the dance floor.
"We became close friends in 2012," Terri Heath said. "Her diagnosis was incredibly shocking. I was stunned and stalled for the first week I found out. Now everybody is pulling together to try to make her as comfortable as possible. Sally is amazing. She's the happiest and bubbliest person in the world."
"It's a healthy turnout," Laren Barrett said. "People came together because they love her. Sally has been dancing with the community for many years. She always has beautiful costumes and outfits. Her heart and soul is in dancing. We want to help make her life a little bit easier and happier so she can concentrate on getting better."
