In today’s crazy, fast-paced life, we often discuss “challenges” that come our way. These are unexpected, life-happens moments that many of us share via social media or email to let friends, family and associates know we may need a moment out of the fast lane to care for ourselves or take time to help someone in need. While my recent years have had their fair share of these moments, many of which I have shared here, I decided to choose a challenge for 2019. Thanks in large part to friends Leslie Rich, Brad Vynalek and the late Linda Pope, I have signed on to not only learn a Latin ballroom dance but to perform it in front of a live audience. All of this is in the name of a cause — a cause with family ties. Dancing with the Stars Arizona benefiting the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona is coming on Feb. 22. To prepare for this challenge, I have been taking ballroom dance lessons twice a week and the days are counting down quickly to the big day. Yes, I took ballet, tap and jazz as a child and pom-pommed my way through high school as a cheerleader, but this is a whole new thing. My instructor Ivan will be my dance partner for the event that is closely modelled after the ABC hit TV series, with a fundraising twist. Reminders like “lean forward,” “tippy toes” and “WAIT” have become a bit like being back in school as I learn a new subject. While I’ve always loved the pageantry of the TV show and thought Andrea Evans | Publisher Why I’m dancing for a cause CHALLENGE BY CHOICE OPEN DOORS { publisher’s page } 48 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | JANUARY 2019

@AndreaTEvans Andrea Evans PUBLISHER it would be a great way to exercise, I said yes to putting myself in this situation, hoping I don’t embarrass myself, for another reason: kidney disease. My Uncle Steve is a walking miracle. He has had three (yes, three!) kidney transplants over the course of 20+ years. The first from a stranger, the second from his sister and the third from his daughter … can you imagine? This long fight has meant there were many years he couldn’t do much due to the limitations that came along with kidney disease and surgeries, but right now he’s doing really well and making the trek from California to cheer me on at the big event. There are some other ties too: Our former nanny is on dialysis, my sister’s best friend has a 7 year old fighting and my sorority sister Mel donated a kidney to a stranger after signing up to be a possible match. All of my fellow dancers also have a tie to someone or several someones with kidney disease, so the ripple effect is quite large once you join the effort. And so, we are now banded together through a challenge we chose, to not only learn to perform as dancers but to raise as much money as we can to assist the largest chapter of the National Kidney Foundation as they continue their efforts to provide care, education and hope to more than 600,000 Arizonans with kidney disease. Cheers to 2019, and to choosing a challenge with lots of glitter. Wish me luck! Andrea CONNECTING WOMEN WHERE THEY WORK, LIVE OR PLAY Join us where you live, work or play to connect with like-minded women to share information, ideas, contacts and opportunities. Learn more at: eastvalleywomen.org | centralphoenixwomen.org | womenofscottsdale.org