Leather and Lace Club dances to beat cancer

About $485 was raised by members of the Leather and Lace dance club in Dayton this past Friday night, with all the money going to the Walk to Beat Breast Cancer event to be held Oct. 22.

Each year the club chooses a different charity toward which they give the proceeds from a Friday night dance. Last year, Leather and Lace's benefit dance raised almost $300 for the local Patchwork Pantry food ministry.

Leather and Lace is a country/western dance club that holds dances on a regular basis. According to Jim Bishop, the vice president of Leather and Lace, once a year the club turns one of its regular dances into a benefit for a local charity, which the board selects from suggestions made by members earlier in the summer. All gate receipts and any other fund-raising efforts from the evening (for instance, a raffle) go to the selected charity.

The dance started at 8 p.m. Friday with a teaching session until 9 p.m. Dancing was from 9-11 p.m. with the raffle drawing at 10 p.m. This year's raffle offered a variety of items donated from 19 different businesses and individuals, including restaurant gift certificates, JMU homegame tickets, and several lamps.

Although Leather and Lace normally does not have decorations or refreshments, the benefit dance was graced with pink and white helium balloons, drinks, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. The cookies were compliments of Linda Nipe, a breast cancer survivor who spoke to the group about her experience.

Jason Smith of the Harrisonburg Recreation Department is helping to organize the Walk to Beat Breast Cancer was present at the dance to receive a check at the end of the evening. Bishop, who emceed the evening, described it as a very up-beat evening and a lot of fun. "It's nice to be able to raise some money that way," he said.

Leather and Lace has approximately 75 members, including officers such as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, activities director, and membership director. According to Bishop, average attendance is between 40 and 45 members, with greater attendance during the winter months than during the summer.

The club will offer a fall series of dance classes starting Friday, Oct. 7, at the Dayton Learning Center, 290 Mill St. Lessons cost $25 for the entire series of seven consecutive Friday nights or $5 per class. For more information, call (540) 234-8765.