Proceeds from 'Dancing with Celebrities' to fund healing garden
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

Marlborough - It is time for residents to polish their dancing shoes because the Marlborough Junior Woman's Club (MJWC) is preparing for their second annual "Dancing with Celebrities: Marlborough Style." This year's event will be held Saturday Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Best Western Hotel in Marlborough. Proceeds from this year's event will go towards a proposed healing garden at Marlborough Hospital.

The goal of a healing garden is to offer patients, visitors and staff members a place to go to relax and to seek the healing comforts of nature. Mass. General Hospital in Boston has recently completed a healing garden that is housed on the eighth floor of the Yawkee Cancer Center; it provides a calm serene environment overlooking the Charles River.

With more evidence focusing on a holistic approach to health and medical care, medical experts believe that gardens can offer significant benefit for both the patients and caregivers.

MJWC member Theresa Frias is involved with planning the upcoming dancing event and is excited about raising funds for a healing garden.

"A healing garden is a place you can go and reflect in calm and peaceful environment," Frias said. "With a lot of hospitals moving away from chapels, nature offers a nondenominational atmosphere."

Linda Dodge, director of development at Marlborough Hospital, said that the healing garden touches patients' families and staff members who need the opportunity for respite.

Officials at the hospital sought the help of the MJWC, Dodge said, because they knew that the group is often involved with beautification.

Frias felt that a healing garden was a significant project for her group to support because it will benefit the whole community, not just a few people.

The planning of the healing garden is in the early stages, with the hospital just beginning to run focus groups with key members of the community regarding what characteristics the garden should have. The initial plans for the project include a 90-by-60-foot garden at the front of the hospital with an estimated cost of about $150,000. The "Dancing with Celebrities" event will be the first of many community fund-raising events for the garden.

Frias, who is currently teaching dance and performing in dance competitions, hopes the upcoming event will raise approximately $15,000 before expenses.

Some of the celebrities slated to perform in Dancing with Celebrities include: Chris Zito from WXLO; Patrick Hogan, police officer and candidate for mayor; and John Polanowicz, president and CEO of Marlborough Hospital. Participants in the event will get three instructional dance lessons in a chosen dance category such as waltz, salsa or swing with Denise Frias Dance Company or Salsa Storm.

The amateur dancers will then pair up with the experts to perform for the audience, who will then vote for their favorite dancers. After the performance, the floor will be open to all for dancing the night away.

Tickets are available for the event and are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The MJWC will also be hosting a raffle during the event.

For more information about the healing garden, the Dancing with Celebrities event, or becoming a member of the MJWC, visit the Web site at www.marlboroughjuniors. org.