Each year, community leaders put on their dancing shoes in hopes of winning the title that is earned at the Dancing with Our Stars Gala. All this fun and friendly competition among participants benefits the Children’s Tumor Foundation and supports the Arkansas chapter’s research and mission: to end and find a cure for neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that disturbs cell growth in the nervous system, causing tumors to form on nerve tissue.
CTF also provides support for children and families affected by NF. A portion of the proceeds is donated for grants to send Arkansas teens to the International NF Summer Camp held at Camp Kostopulos (Camp K).
Leading up to the grand event, we’re putting each star in the spotlight and introducing them on our blog. They will compete for the dancing title and mirror ball trophy at the Sept. 7 gala, in addition to soliciting contributions + votes prior to the event.
Meet Wendy Cook (partnered with John Browning of High Voltage Dance Company)
Wendy Cook, native Arkansan, is the owner of Big Rock Yoga and the founder of Big Rock Outreach.
She is a graduate of Little Rock Central High and holds a B. A. in Business and Accounting from Hendrix College.
After college, Wendy worked for over a decade in the telecommunications industry. She then was blessed with an “early retirement” to raise her three children: Elizabeth, Bradley and Mary Claire. She is also the grandmother of her perfect two-year-old grandson, Ryker!
Telecommunications is not her only strong suit, however. While raising her children, Wendy fell in love with the empowering and healing aspects of yoga. She has taught yoga for 15 years– everywhere from Austin to Africa. She is a life coach and leads teacher-training certification programs. She also established Big Rock Outreach to bring the healing and empowerment of yoga to underserved populations. She offers teacher-training scholarships to help all at-risk populations, including families affected by chronic disease, rural populations, abused women and homeless populations.
Wendy counts a loyal commUNITY of friends and students among her blessings, and is excited to once again be giving back to it through her participation in the gala. Her passion is empowering others to lead an intentional life with no limits, which she feels fits perfectly with the mission of the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
While Wendy danced at Miss Tommie’s Dance Academy as a youth, it has been years since she has had a “dance recital,” but she plans to dance like nobody’s watching to help find a cure for Neurofibromatosis!
