By Samantha Stewart '25 (Published in the May 8, 2025 Arlington Catholic Herald)
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects breathing, digestion and other organ systems. In 1975, Brenda O’Donnell, a beloved student at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, succumbed to CF.
The next year, her sister, Maura, along with classmates and friends planned what would become the first Superdance, a 12-hour student-organized dance marathon to benefit research on finding a cure for this disease.
This past March, O’Connell students celebrated the 50th Superdance with a “Back to the Future” theme, titled, “Back to the Cure.” The event honored the history of Superdance, and looked ahead in the hopes of a future without CF. Even as new treatments are developed that have proven successful for some, O’Connell students continue to dance in the hopes of finding a treatment that works for all.
“Superdance is an important O’Connell tradition,” said Meghan Lonergan, student council moderator. “As a community, we are committed to helping find a cure for cystic fibrosis no matter how long it takes, and we are so grateful to all in the community who have been supporting our efforts over the past 50 years.”
Every year, Superdance season begins in February with an all-school assembly meant to educate students on the history and tradition of Superdance. Each assembly consists of speakers, games and videos, with cherished members of the O’Connell family, including one of Maura and Brenda’s surviving sisters, who inspire and thank students for their dedication to this effort. Additionally, a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation representative visited to educate students on the foundation’s work and the impact O’Connell has on their community.
This year’s assembly included the start of what will hopefully become an assembly tradition — “Show us your Superdance Live” was wonderful chaos that ended in an impromptu conga line across the stage. It was one of the organizers’ favorite moments.
Jumping ahead to the dance, the 50th Superdance saw an exciting increase in alumni participation, reaching across all decades. More than 450 alumni participated in Superdance through donations of time and treasure, with classmates of the O’Donnell sisters particularly supportive of this year’s dance.
As a very special appearance for this milestone event, O’Connell alumnus, Pat McGee, class of 1991, and his Pat McGee Band, stopped by to perform for the students and share his personal memories of Superdance.
The student-led entertainment committee — one of the 12 committees that plan and execute all the event details — organized many different activities and performances to keep students busy for all 12 hours. This year’s other highlights included student DJs and bands such as The Pocket Threes, Zane Watts, and the Sam Lo-Band, as well as other sets by faculty and staff bands.
True to its “Back to the Future” theme, Superdance 2025 included some technical innovation as well. Members of the finance and registration committees worked together to institute a new fully online system where students could create a personalized donation link to share with their friends, family, and followers.
“Using an online system this year simplified the entire donation process, and it was so much easier to ask my community for donations and thank them for their generosity through the platform,” said senior Lucy Hensler. “It was also fun to see the fundraising competition between classes as we got closer to the dance.”
In the end, O’Connell students received donations from almost 4,500 unique donors, showcasing their commitment to the cause. The student council executive board set an initial fundraising goal of $150,000, but thanks to the hard work of the student body, and the generosity of the larger O’Connell community, Superdance raised more than $275,000 to benefit CF research, surpassing the $200,000 mark for only the third time in Superdance history.
“Superdance is a really fun way to get involved at O’Connell,” said senior Andrew Fthenos. “It is a reminder of the strength in community and the importance of being part of something bigger than yourself.”
Members of the Student Council Executive Board contributed to this story.
Find out more about Superdance at bishopoconnell.org/superdance, and view photos from our 50th Superdance below.
