Dancers Against Cancer hosted their Spring 2026 Benefit Show, titled DAC State of Mind, at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday in the SFASU Grand Ballroom. During the two shows, they raised a total of $22,888 through donations, auctions and sales.
This year, DAC raised awareness for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the 3rd leading cancer death with a 5-year survival rate of 13%. During their show, they gave the audience information surrounding the symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. To raise money during the show, they auctioned off items like jewelry, SFA and DAC merchandise, themed baskets and other items. They performed 27 dance routines featuring, including solos, duets, weekly routines and donation dash dances.
DAC donates half of the money it raises each semester to the East Texas Cancer Alliance of Hope, and the other half goes to a chosen recipient. This year’s recipient is Danny Knowles, a husband and father of three, diagnosed with Stage 2 pancreatic cancer in November of 2024. Now at Stage 4 diagnoses, he is continuing his chemotherapy to slow the spread of cancer cells while living his life to the fullest. They also provide care baskets to four additional recipients. This year’s recipients were Aza Showen, Shana Thomason, Gary Trook and Alexis Satterwhite.
“My family is a caregiver for my mom’s mom for about six and a half years…so I know the dedication it takes to take care of someone when they’re going through stuff like that and all the medical bills and the stuff with the insurance,” Jenna Koerner, a junior dietetics and nutritional sciences major from Cedar Park and vice president for DAC, said. “I know the money is a great way to show our support, but I feel like it’s also just the group of girls who you feel like they’re on your side.”
Members of DAC represented recipients and families who could not be there to tell their story. Alexis Satterwhite, a computed tomography technologist, wife and mother of two, was there to tell her story:
“When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I was honestly hesitant to share my story, but I realized that if speaking up could help even one person then it would probably be worth it,” Satterwhite said. “In April 2025, I went to my primary doctor and I mentioned my breast pain but the doctor said I was too young for cancer...The next week I go to my gynecologist for my yearly appointment, I mentioned my pain then, that doctor did a breast exam, said it was most likely growing pains because he did not feel anything and told me that I could get an ultrasound in the next couple of months if the pain was still there.”
Satterwhite kept pushing for answers. After being dismissed, she continued to push for ultrasounds and mammograms, both of which came back negative. After these tests, she pushed for an MRI. The test revealed Stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis. “In total, 23 lymph nodes were affected.” Satterwhite said. Due to multiple concerns, she went through six rounds of chemotherapy, which she completed in January. She is now undergoing immunotherapy, which she will continue every three weeks for a year, and is scheduled for a double mastectomy and years of recovery.
“With this experience, I know how important it is to listen to your body and advocate for yourself, even when it’s hard and even when you feel unsure, and I hope that not only other people hear that, but that my kids, Elliott and Beckham do too,” Satterwhite said. “If there one thing I hope people take from my story, it’s this: don’t ignore your instincts, you know your body more than anyone else does and just fight for yourself.”
In the U.S., one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. For this reason, many individuals in DAC are there not just to support their cause but because they know someone with cancer or have had cancer in the past.
“So it’s a little bit of a different situation because I myself am a childhood cancer survivor so I’ve been on the other side where like people in my community are like rallying behind me and so when I had the opportunity to find out about DAC, through a lot of those girls, it was an opportunity for me to not only make friends and create a new community when I moved here but to also be on the other side of the aisle and give back to those who are in situations like me, which I know is very tough and takes a village to do anything.” Lexi Nichols, senior psychology major from Nacogdoches and DACrew manager, said.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the final spring show was moved forward. Considering this change, the organization will continue fundraising to give to the East Texas Cancer Alliance of Hope and the Knowles Family. DAC will announce future fundraisers and profit shares on their social media platforms. Donation links can also be found through their Linktree in their social media bios.
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