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Dancing to make wishes come true

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| Sunday, December 19, 2004 11:58 PM CST | () comments

Mary Louise Speer

WALCOTT, Iowa � Many eyes glistened with tears as Maggie Wiederholt, 7, danced in front of an audience of hundreds Sunday during a benefit for Make- A-Wish Foundation of Iowa.

The second-grader at Walcott School lives with brittle bone disease, and a year ago, she had to rely on a wheelchair to get around. This year she is dancing and her mother, Diane Wiederholt, hopes Maggie can continue enjoying her favorite activity.

"In all of us, there is a power deep within. It was not until my daughter had her wish granted two years ago that I realized how miraculous that wish was," Wiederholt said. Maggie's wish was a trip to Disney World.

"At the time her wish was granted, she was in so much pain. Make A Wish gave her hope for a brighter day," she said.

People attending the benefit enjoyed two dance performances by young dancers from Dance Works and purchased raffle tickets for prizes donated by area merchants from gift certificates to holiday items, stuffed toys, travel baskets and more. Hockey players from the Quad-City Mallards came to support their favorite fan.

"I like having the Mallards here," Maggie said.

If Maggie felt any pain during her dance, she did not show it. She performed in a fur-trimmed robe with two older dancers. The number ended with the dancers lifting Maggie and setting her down for the final round of applause.

The program was Maggie's idea as a way to raise money for another child's wish through the foundation, Wiederholt said. The foundation has not chosen a recipient yet.

"She sees other kids with disabilities and wishes they could be happier. She's just a happy kid," Wiederholt said.

Some people might think dancing is a liability for a child who can break her bones just by walking around. Maggie was diagnosed with the disease at 9 months. But Wiederholt knows how much happiness her daughter finds in simply being able to twirl and spin like other kids, albeit more carefully.

"We have to tape her ankles and that gives her a little more stability," Wiederholt said, adding if she had a wish granted, it would be for doctors to find a cure for Maggie � and other children affected by brittle bone disease.

Laura Thumann, who owns Dance Works of Davenport with her husband, Larry Thumann, started working on a program featuring their 350 students in October. The studio offers lessons in tap, ballet, tumbling and other eclectic forms of dance such as hip-hop. All of the teachers' volunteered their time to help at the performance Sunday

"It's amazing. You have your own family, but you also have your own studio family. It just warms your heart all the people who come out and volunteer," Laura Thumann said.

The city desk can be contacted at

(563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.