Mohawk Presents Calhoun’s Dancing with the Stars 2013 will hit the GEM Theatre with a March 15 opening night and conclude with a finale on Saturday, March 16 when four judges present one of the eight teams with the coveted “Mirror Ball” trophy. Both shows are scheduled to begin at 7:30pm, with the Saturday finale also streaming via a live feed at Velo Vineyard presented to accommodate the sell-out.

Dancing fourth on the roster are Dr. Cindy Brown and Dr. Kirby Peden, who will dance to the Blues Brothers’ classic “Shake a Tail Feather” as they wing it on the GEM stage. Despite their demanding professions, each has committed to the Dancing with the Stars fundraiser in order to support the cause and step outside the box.

These two local physicians are sure to get some feathers flying with their fun an upbeat performance. While Kirby has no dance training, Cindy has 15 years of dance experience, having studied jazz, ballet and tap, so she should bring some skills to the floor.

Cindy is employed with Gordon Hospital and has practiced medicine in Gordon County for 12 years. Married for 18 years to Marty Brown, the couple has four young children: nine year old son Copelan, seven year old twin daughters Karcyn and Kyndal and infant son Jadon. The family attends First United Methodist Church.

Cindy is currently working on a major community project and hopes to develop an indigent clinic in Calhoun. “I’ve had a heart-felt desire to give locally through medical missions for many years now. I don’t like to fly, so I don’t know if I’ll ever go overseas, but God has blessed me with a skill set I can use right here,” she explained. “There is such a need in our community. Our prayers and plans are to provide necessary medical services to local homeless and working poor families that otherwise do not or cannot access care.”

Dr. Peden is a graduate of Berry College and the Medical College of Georgia. He owns and operates GA Emergency Care, which operates the Gordon Hospital Emergency Room. Married for 12 to Julie Peden, the couple has two children: ten-year-old son Luke and seven-year-old daughter Adeline. “My children are the sixth generation of my family to grow up in Calhoun, Georgia,” he comments, perhaps explaining his commitment to Calhoun-Gordon County.

“I agreed to do Dancing with the Stars because I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and do something fun with my friend,” he explained. “Basically, I am a wanna- be cowboy, even though I am afraid of snakes.”

Mohawk Presents Calhoun’s Dancing with the Stars is a joint fundraiser, with all profits benefiting the GEM Theatre and United Way of Gordon County. Each of the eight teams is competing in two capacities: as fundraisers and as dancers. Their fundraising efforts are limited only by their imaginations.

Team supporters may make online donations at www.gordoncountyunitedway.org until right before the finale. Online donors must make a minimum pledge of $5.00, with Visa, MasterCard and Discover accepted. Those wishing to make personal donations may do so by offering their payments to United Way Director Vickie Spence at her office in the Calhoun Depot. Credit cards, cash and checks are accepted at that location. Supporters may also present their donations directly to their favored team. Donations will be collected during the Friday and Saturday shows.