2010 Abbott Dance for Life boosts recovery

Tracy-Lee Davis with Jenade Chaplin of Fred Astaire CU

Now in its second year, the annual Dance for Life campaign is modelled on the hit TV series "So you think you can dance," and was created to boost the recovery of patients with autoimmune illness taking Abbott's biologic drug.

The inspirational dance routine for this innovative initiative was choreographed by Harold van Buuren, head judge of "So you think you dance", as well as Dance for Life. In addition to being a highly effective, physical workout for the 66 patients who have participated nationally in Dance for Life since 2009, the weekly dance classes have also served to build cohesive support groups.

Divided into categories

2010 Dance for Life participants ranged from 12-65 years in age. Due to a higher intake of older patients this year, participants were divided into pre- and post-40 age categories to even out the playing field.

The 2010 under 40s title went to 25-year old rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient, Tracey-Lee Davis, from Midrand, with 40-year old Crohn's patient, Simoné Burn of Durbanville, Cape Town, winning the 40-plus award.

Two of the six national winners included patients with ankylosing spondylitis and project manager, Dean Krawitz, of Event Evolution comments that, "The campaign bears testament to the courage, tenacity and stoic determination of all the participating patients.

"Having lost their quality of life post diagnosis, this campaign has been about teaching patients that with effective medical treatment, regular exercise and a positive attitude, they can take back their lives and move forward," Krawitz says.

"Although the judges looked for excellent dance and interpretative technique, they also took the attitude and physical limitations of the participants into account. Limitations notwithstanding, the moves of the national finalists at the grande finale rivalled those of the TV participants on "So you think you can dance," leaving the audience breathless."

Exercise, not unfamiliar

Exercise was not a novelty for the 2010 participants as most had danced or done other forms of exercise prior to developing autoimmune illness. Their participation in Dance for Life was a celebration of their return to health, physical mobility and an active and enjoyable lifestyle.

Davis's spectacular, winning samba with her professional partner, Jenade Chaplin of Fred Astaire Heathway Dance Studio, was nothing short of miraculous as she had been discharged from hospital after a flare in her RA just ten days before the Grande Finale.

Davis did ballet and modern dance throughout her childhood and teenage years, but developed severe RA at the age of 16. She did not unfortunately respond well to standard DMARDs, but a turning point in her illness came after she began using Abbott's fully human monoclonal biologic at the age of 21. Due to the severity of her condition, it took some time for the drug to work, but slowly the flare-ups became less frequent and she became more mobile.

Unfortunately, her recovery has been complicated by the fact that she also has Fibromyalgia.

Dance for Life, a dream cone true - Davis

For Davis, Dance for Life is literally a dream come true. "Dancing, performing, and choreography is what I loved and lived for," she says. "When I used to go and watch dance shows or ballets, I would sit and cry because I knew in my heart that I should have been on that stage. With this campaign, my heart has started becoming whole again."

Another major benefit of the campaign, Davis says, was meeting other patients who had the same problems and knew exactly what she was going through.

Afflicted with Crohn's Disease at the age of 26, HR manager, Burn had to give up her passion of being a part-time aerobics instructor due to the fatigue and pain she endured for the next 11 years.

For a decade, Burn lived on a Spartan diet, had two surgeries, and several courses of cortisone. Although cortisone reduced her inflammation and pain, she experienced transient arthritis in her knees and left ankle for a couple of months at a time while she was being weaned off the drug.

She was unable to exercise or go shopping. Socialising also became infrequent because she was always fighting chronic pain.

Her turnaround came in 2007 after she was admitted to a biologic trial. "After a couple of weeks on the biologic, there was already an improvement in my condition," she says. She had no further flares after starting the drug and slowly went back to doing gym three times a week, as well as weekly Dance for Life classes.

Theme song written for project

The theme song for the 2010 Dance for Life dance routine was "I can't stop believing", written by project manager, Dean Krawitz, and composed and sung by Mark Beling (ex- front man of SA rock band, Mean Mr Mustard). It is currently being played on 94.7 Highveld Stereo and other radio stations. Proceeds from downloads of the song will be used to fund biologics for treatment resistant patients who are not covered in full by their medical schemes. To download this inspirational song, go to www.myspace.com/officialmarkbeling.