In July 2007 at age 28, Katy Rock was diagnosed with multiple brain tumors. Now in her 11th round of chemotherapy out of 12, she is doing well, but she wanted to help others.
Enter her sister, Jenn Wrenn.
“I wanted to do something to inspire my sister – and others who are battling cancer like she is – the same way she has inspired me with her bravery”, Wrenn said.
From that has come The Circus of Dreams Guild, a group of people who are focused on inspiring children and raising money for pediatric brain tumor research.
Now, the first annual Circus of Dreams benefit will take place on Sept. 27, featuring performances by a collection of well-known aerialists and performers.
“We invite guests to join in our fascinating and mysterious world of dreams where the rules of reality do not apply,” said Wrenn.
The ensemble of Seattle’s best aerial talent includes Tamara the Trapeze lady, Poppy Daze and Opel Devine from the Aerialistas; Sally Pepper from Circus Contraption; the Cabiri performance troupe; Dyno the aerialist; Vivian Tam; The Sky Sirens and more. The event also will feature Emery Carl, Chance Marmalade and The Kirkland Dance Center Performance Group. All the performances are donated.
In addition, there will be special guests hosted at this event. Along with funding the event, sponsor donations will make it possible for children who are battling life-threatening illnesses and their families to attend. Each sponsored child will receive free tickets and parking for the entire family, a special backstage tour to meet with the performers after the show and small gifts from the Circus of Dreams Guild.
“When my sister offered me the chance to put this benefit together, it provided a perfect opportunity to support research that’s working to find better, safer treatments for children,” said Katy, who lives in Kirkland with her husband, Plymouth.
Both women went to school at Rose Hill Junior High School and Lake Washington High School.
Proceeds from the “Circus of Dreams” are donated to Children’s Hospital for pediatric brain tumor research. Brain tumors are the second most common type of childhood cancer. Less than 3 percent of government-funded cancer research is specific to pediatric cancer and only a small percentage of that funding goes toward brain tumor research.
The event will take place at ACT/Gregory A. Falls Theater in Seattle.
A children’s matinee will be at 2 p.m. with tickets $10 for a child and $20 for adults. An evening show will begin at 8 p.m. with all tickets $25.
Tickets are available at https://www.acttheatre.org/TicketsPlays/Play.aspx?prod=1652.
More information is available at http://www.circusofdreams.org/.
