As she continues to face thereturn of her cancer,Olivia Newton-Johnremains a positive force — and is continuing to make an impact with her platform.
“The dance performing community means a lot to me. I’ve always loved dancers and wished that I’d learnt when I was young,”says Newton-John, 70, whorevealed in 2017 that she had been diagnosedwith metastatic breast cancer. “I used to do creative dance, but I never really learned it until I had to dance with Gene Kelly and John Travolta. Lucky me, I got to doDancing with the Starslong before it was a show.”
Stephen Busken
Allyson Minahan, Kate Campa, Allie Brown and Olivia Newton-John.Stephen Busken
“My cancer journey started in 1992, and I went through surgery and chemotherapy,” she says. “I was lucky enough to have yoga and massage and homeopathy and meditation, and then I had a spell of years where I was okay. Then I have metastases now.”
Minahan’s cancer was discovered after an ultra-sound, and she’s already undergone two surgeries. Campa was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer after suffering from back pain, and Brown was told she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma after having “really bad chest pain.”
Despite the hardships they’re facing, all three girls — and Newton-John — are determined to find beauty in the world.
Kate Campa, Allie Brown, Olivia Newton-John and Allyson Minahan.Stephen Busken
Olivia Newton-John, Kate Campa and Allie Brown.Stephen Busken
Says Brown through tears: “You never know what someone’s going through. Being kind to some people can make a big difference.”
On Aug. 14, various dancers, educators, pioneers and more will be honored at theIndustry Dance Awards & Cancer Benefit Show, an annual event held at the Avalon in Hollywood that will benefit cancer-related charities including Dancers Against Cancer.
Kate Campa, Olivia Newton-John and Allie Brown.Stephen Busken
Newton-John will receive the lifetime achievement award, Jenna Dewan will be honored with the trailblazer award, Derek Hough and Julianne Hough will take home the role model award, Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo will receive the innovator award and Galen Hooks will be given the dance icon award.
source: people.com
