Two Southern Maryland women, Dawn Campbell and Jacquelene Kielpinski, have organized a fundraiser to help with the fight against cancer on Oct. 24 at Leonardtown High School Gymnasium. This fundraiser is different than most. While attempting to raise money, these women have organized a world record attempt by including this fundraiser as part of the ‘Thrill the World.’

“We are working toward breaking the world record for most dancers doing the “Thriller” dance at one time!” exclaimed Campbell. This is the third year the Thrill the World effort has been in existence. “This year, I believe, will be well attended with the many fans that are still mourning the death of Michael Jackson,” said Campbell.
 
The event is international and many countries are represented including: Malaysia, Russia, Canada, the United States and many more.

“The way the contest works is that we organize an event where we get as many people dancing the ‘Thriller’ dance at a specific time. The Thriller Dance will begin on Saturday at exactly 8:30 p.m. and it is coordinated around the world.”

For more on the World Record attempt, check out the Web site at:  www.thrilltheworld.com and http://sites.google.com/site/thrillernightsomd/
 
Campbell and Kielpinski trained the dancers who will be making the attempt with dance classes at various locations leading up to Saturday’s record attempt. “We must use a specific version of the Thriller dance; it’s not exactly as you see it in the Thriller video,” said Campbell.
 
In addition to trying to break the World Record, the event will be a fundraiser to benefit a good friend of Campbell’s family’s Relay for Life team, Jordan Paganelli. He is a 17 year old student at Leonardtown High School.

Last year, he was diagnosed with Stage IV Rhabdomysarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer that predominantly affects children.  “This isn’t a very well known form of cancer and doesn’t get a lot of attention or funding for that matter, so we are trying to help.  We have stood by and watched Jordan and his family go through everything that this disease has dealt him.  His father is a Naval aviator and was actually stationed onboard an aircraft carrier, in support of the war, when Jordan was diagnosed.

“His mother and father are just amazing and have handled his disease in such wonderful fashion.  I don’t know how they do it,” said Campbell.