Grosse Ile Cancer Survivor to Cha Cha, Rumba and Waltz for Cancer Fighters

Women like Irma Slimko, of Grosse Ile, knows all too well the physical, emotional and financial toll cancer can have on a person and a family.

Slimko was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, and, after a partial mastectomy, reconstructive surgery and aggressive chemotherapy, has been in remission for 16 years.

"It took a number of years to finally stop being concerned, more like freaked out, with every ailment that the cancer was back, which I am sure every cancer patient goes through this anxiety," Slimko said.

In an effort to help others engaged in the same life threatening battle she endured in 1997, Slimko is participating in an event to raise money for The Pink Fund—formed to help people receiving treatment for breast cancer focus on healing, raising their families, and returning to the workplace, according to The Pink Fund website.

Slimko and three other breast cancer survivors have agreed to partner with professional dancers from the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Bloomfield Hills to raise money for The Pink Fund in an event appropriately named Dancing with the Survivors.

The event is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at Art Van Furniture, 6500 E 14 Mile Road, in Warren. Tickets are $100 and available for purchase at www.thepinkfund.org.

"Everyone is aware of breast cancer," Stephanie Caponigro, public relations representative for The Pink Fund, said in a release. "What they aren’t aware of is that while fighting for their lives, many breast cancer patients in active treatment lose their livelihoods. Unable to work, patients often face catastrophic financial losses."

Slimko hopes to raise money for people whose financial lives have been affected by breast cancer by dancing the Bolero, the Cha Cha, the Hustle, the Rumba, the Samba, the Swing and the Waltz. The funds that will help provide non-medical financial assistance to Michigan breast cancer patients in active treatment, according to the release.

"Events like Dancing with the Survivors is a community of people with one goal in mind - to help raise funds to assist those suffering during current cancer treatment to alleviate the stress of worrying about non-medical expenses by providing short term assistance," Slimko said.

Slimko said another great side-effect of the event is the joy of dancing.

"(I'm dancing) to remind people how dancing can bring back passion in so many different ways with the different styles of dance depending on the music," Slimko said.

Slimko will be dancing along side fellow survivors Roz Fantich, of West Bloomfield; Jan Jones, of Wolverine Lake and Sheri Mark, of Birmingham.