Zombie Flash Mob Surprises Guests with “Thriller” Dance; Event Generates Awareness and Funds for Foundation’s Local Work
The crazy, costumed fever of Halloween spiked with exceptional energy when Arthritis Foundation welcomed more than 500 creepy, cute and crazed characters to the bowels of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science for the 8th Annual Arthritis Bone Bash on Oct. 19. This year, thanks to the event supporters’ “spooktacular ghoulwill” the gala raised nearly $260,000 to help benefit the work of the Arthritis Foundation.
The Dallas Bone Bash supports the organization’s fight against arthritis, the nation’s most common cause of disability. Currently, 50 million Americans (one in five) are living with arthritis. This includes 1.8 million North Texans that are served by the Arthritis Foundation. Proceeds from the Dallas Bone Bash support funding to conduct research to find a cure, provide public health/educational programs for those who have arthritis, and continue the Foundation’s advocacy efforts throughout North Texas.
The much-anticipated Halloween soiree welcomed costumed attendees into The Perot as they stepped over moaning zombies purposefully splayed on the steps. Once inside, partygoers found a lively New Orleans-themed Voodoo Masquerade Ball with all the décor and panache of the French Quarter’s haunted past.
An all-doctor band called Doctor, Doctor entertained guests until — surprise! — a flash mob full of zombies took over, doing the dance moves to Thriller. Afterwards, guests partied the night away to the psychedelic sounds of New Orleans band “Flow Tribe,” as well as to the jive rhythms of “DJ Andre and the Drummer” in the Bone Bash’s first-ever Voodoo Lounge.
Even with parading skeletons, witches and warlocks, not to mention the Hollywood characters, the mission of fostering awareness of the seriousness of arthritis was not lost, particularly with the spotlight on Susan Carter, Chief Executive Officer, Arthritis Foundation South Central Region and Chelsea Hunt, Event Co-Chair providing their insights and personal testimonies on the Foundation’s mission.
With an array of spider webs, graveyards and bubbling cauldrons, the scene was set for Dallas’ most glamorous ghouls and goblins who stepped out in Halloween finery. Leading the pack were Gala Chairs Dr. Kurt and Leslie Kitizer, who presided over this year’s “Undead Ball” in full theatrical regalia as New Orleans’ own Witch Doctor Baron Samedi and his High Priestess Marie Laveaux. Also setting the howling pace were Dr. Carr Vineyard, Event Co-Chair and Kristi Commuzi, Marketing/Production and Design Chair.
Guests dined on New Orleans-style cuisine from Wolfgang Puck ranging from gourmet Po’ Boys and red beans and rice, to scrumptious bourbon-tinged bread pudding and sweet potato cheesecake.
The Halloween revelers also enjoyed ghoulish games and devilish delights throughout the evening including casino attractions, fortune tellers and fabulous auction items. Just a few of the gala’s highlights included the much-anticipated mobile-text auction and wine pull, as well as the evening’s new Bling & Bubbly Game. This year, Bone Bash organizers also secured an incredible array of luxury items from Eiseman Jewels in NorthPark Center, in addition to incredible sports, arts and entertainment and travel packages that were just “to die for” this Halloween season.
Supporters for the 2013 Dallas Bone Bash included: Witch Doctor Sponsor: W.B. Carrell Clinic; Back Bone Sponsors: Buz Burkhead, M.D.; Jo and Robert Langdon, M.D.; Hip Bone Sponsors: North Central Surgical Center; Sharon and Paul Devereaux/NTI, Inc.; Leg Bone Sponsors: Baylor Medical Center at Uptown; Dallas Anesthesia Associates; DePuy; Euflexxa; Margaret and Lee Jackson; Leslie and Kurt Kitziger, M.D.; Margaret Hunt "In honor of Chelsea Hunt"; Mercedes Benz of Plano; Petro-Hunt, LLC; Pylant Medical; Stryker; Carr Vineyard, M.D.; Arm Bone Sponsors: Arthritis Care and Research Center; Biomet; Encompass Home Health; Excel Anesthesia P.A.; Bo Frederick, M.D.; Donna Garret & Friends; Tom Glasson; Haven Home Health; Chelsea and Austin Hunt; Massage Envy Spa; Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine of Dallas; DeEtte and Paul Peters, M.D.; Remington Medical Resort – Richardson; and Villages of Lake Highlands.
About the Arthritis Foundation
The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the unacceptable impact of arthritis, which strikes 1.8 million North Texans and is the nation’s leading cause of disability. To conquer this painful, debilitating disease, we support education, research, advocacy and vital community programs and services.