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Community Corner

St. Michael's School Pedals for Student with Cancer

Clare Blasé has kept spirits high during her illness through her love of dance.

Editor's Note: September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. For more information visit: www.childrenwithcancer.org, a nonprofit located on Gravois Road.

Thirteen-year-old Clare Blasé danced for two hours a day. It was her favorite thing to do, but throughout a period of time last November and December, for seemingly no apparent reason, she gained a lot of weight in the face and upper body. Tests first showed a rare condition called Cushing’s syndrome, then came the dreaded diagnosis of cancer after a tumor was found in her adrenal glands.

At St. Louis Children’s Hospital Clare was told she would need surgery to remove a likely malignant tumor the size of a softball. Since then she has been admitted to “Hotel Children’s” 17 times. She’s spent a full third of 2011 in the hospital.

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Now, the St. Michael’s Parish community is supporting Clare in her Pedal the Cause efforts. Pedal the Cause’s mission is to provide funding for cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children's Hospital through annual cycling on Oct. 1 and 2.

“Almost every eighth-grader and many teachers, staff, and other students are riding for ‘Team Clare,’” said Amie Koenen, Clare’s principal at of St. Michael’s Parish School. “She’s a dancer, she's an amazing girl."

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Clare has been dancing at Charmette School of Dance in Affton since she was 3. When she got the chance to write a song with a group called Kids Rock Cancer, she titled it “Dancing Through the Pain.”

“She was just a little tyke who kept moving around,” her mother Cindy Blasé said. “She was always moving her feet, so we got her into dancing and it was a great choice.”

Clare loves to do dance competitions, and she has continued doing them even though she is sick. Twice she was discharged from the hospital and went straight to a dance competition. 

“It’s the only part of my life that I have left that is normal,” she told her mother.  

Though she learns all types of dancing, tap is her favorite.

“She’s a great tapper,” her mother said. “She was to compete in a national competition, and the chemotherapy had made her so sick she was weak. We rolled her up to the stage in a wheel chair and she got out and once she was on the stage she danced her heart out. There were 30 studios competing, and everyone was cheering for Clare. There she was, all 80 pounds of her, trying to move her feet.”

Throughout Clare’s illness St. Michael’s has been there for the Blasés. The teachers and students understand that Clare can only come to school occasionally and for short periods of time.

“We hope to write (Pedal the Cause) a really big check in honor of Clare," Koenen said.

Donations can be made directly online at the www.pedalthecause.org for any of the St. Michael's students, who are registered under “SLCH Team Clare” by their first name and “St. Michael’s.” Each of the St. Michael's students participating must each raise $250 to ride in the event.  

Checks can also be sent St. Michael’s, 7622 Sutherland Ave. Shrewsbury, MO 63119. They should be made out to St. Michael’s with “Pedal the Cause” in the memo area. Call the school at 314-647-5611 for more information. 

Since Clare was diagnosed with cancer, there have been many ups and downs. The downs, from the diagnosis to the chemotherapy, have been very low.

“But on the other hand, we are so grateful for the wonderful things that have happened in our life since this,” Cindy said. “We know so many people are praying for us and we appreciate those prayers.”

Cindy said that Clare is an inspiration to her and many others as she fights this disease head-on with courage, spunk and faith.

“She reaches more people with her faith,” she said. “One little girl witnessing, saying ‘God’s Grace takes care of me.’ That’s better than a sermon.”

One little girl with her tap shoes on, dancing through the pain.

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