KALAMITY in USA TODAY
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ST. GEORGE, Utah — After she fought bone cancer for more than four years, doctors told Megan Haycock she was out of options. Haycock's cancer is terminal, though she plans to begin a chemotherapy treatment in mid-January. She and her family are hoping for a miracle. While they wait and pray, a St. George dance group called Kalamity is making things a little bit better. "I went to a dark place for quite a few months," says Haycock, 36, the mother of two daughters, ages 9 and 11. "Then Kalamity came around and sparked my fight again." Kalamity is a group that performs hip-hop dance concerts to raise funds for people in need, says group founder Tia Stokes of St. George. Since forming five years ago, Kalamity has raised $76,943 for various causes. Stokes, 26, is a former professional dancer who formed Kalamity five years ago to help people with real-life calamities. Kalamity raised almost $15,000 for the Haycock family in 2012. Haycock's husband, Josh, 37, says the funds have helped pay some of his wife's daunting medical bills, but Kalamity also gave their family something priceless: happiness. "You can't put a price on that," he says. Megan Haycock says Kalamity made her feel like a celebrity. The troupe's members called her "Mighty Meg" and asked to have pictures taken with her. Dancer Alexa Ford, 19, of St. George says it's not always easy to get up at 3:30 a.m. for practices, but the fact that it's for a good cause keeps her motivated. "The two best things in the world are dancing and service," she says. Stokes is director, coach, teacher and choreographer for the group but also continues to dance. She says her involvement with Kalamity has changed her life dramatically, and she's grateful for the opportunity to help people. Haycock says Kalamity has lifted her family's spirits and given her a reason to fight. "For us, it was so much more than the money they were trying to raise; it was the friendships we made and the love that we felt," she says.
Love my Fam Bam!!!!! Never quit!!! Observe then Serve!!!! So blessed that the lord has given me and my family this opportunity!!! So much to be grateful for:) This year has been amazing and we love our mighty meg pow!!!!! Thank you to all of my family and friends who served right along with us! Love u all merry Christmas! - Tia
