Photography by David Lewis
Each year, community leaders wear their dancing shoes for the coveted winning title that is earned at the Dancing with Our Stars Gala. All this fun and friendly competition 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.
Children’s Tumor Foundation also provides support for children and families affected by NF. A portion of gala proceeds will support the Adult NF Clinic Pilot Program. We’re putting each star in the spotlight and introducing them on our blog. They will compete at the Thursday, September 7 gala, in addition to soliciting contributions + votes prior to the event.
Cat Sims – Community Leader
Dancing with Keri Fishburn
Born and raised in Camden, Arkansas, Cat Sims obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Ouachita Baptist University. Cat had a career as the Arkansas Healthcare Coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Association before moving to Minnesota as her Husband worked on completing his medical training at The Mayo Clinic. She then worked in medical and real estate sales before moving again to Manhattan. Cat has been volunteering since Jr. High but in the last 3 years, since moving back to Arkansas, she has switched her career once again to full-time mom and philanthropist.
In those 3 years, Cat has been an honoree for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where she won the Todd Miles Award for raising over $40,000 for the foundation, setting a record for the most money raised by a single honoree. She has chaired Blue Jeans and Bubbles for the Ronald McDonald Foundation, also setting a record but this time for having enough in-kind donations that the Foundation spent less of their own money than in previous years. Cat, in addition to dancing and fundraising for CTF, is the chair of this year’s Cystic Fibrosis Breath of Life gala as well as being the Emcee for the Women’s International gala this fall.
Cat lives on the river in North Little Rock with her husband of 14 years, John, as well as their two-year-old daughter Aspen and their dog children Emma the Yorkiepoo and Booba the Great Dane.
Cat danced modern ballet, ballet en pointe, jazz, and river dance throughout jr. high to early college years. That said, she’ll tell you that she’s forgotten everything pre-baby and is very interested to see if any of it comes back to her! She reveals, “Trained dancer or not, it’s always a fear that you hit the stage and just completely forget everything and either have to start over or try to get back on track.”
Cat’s goals, first and foremost, are to raise a ridiculous amount of money for the foundation and second to that, take home that mirror ball being the best performance as well. Cat shares, “I am excited to help raise money and awareness for another great nonprofit that I haven’t been able to work with yet. I’m also excited about the dancing aspect, being a former dancer!” She’s very competitive fiscally and performance-wise, so watch out, Little Rock, she is making her mark!
To VOTE for Cat, scan her QR code below or click HERE
Thank you for helping #ENDNF
