The American Red Cross Freeborn-Mower Chapter announced 16 dancers are high stepping, spinning and twirling to prepare for the seventh annual Dancing with the Freeborn-Mower Stars. This year’s event will be held Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m. on the Albert Lea High School stage.

Executive Director Elaine Hansen said last year’s show set a fundraising record and she hopes this year’s cast and community participation continues to grow. The event is a spinoff of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and raises money for the local Red Cross chapter.

The eight couples will vie for awards in three categories: Top Fundraisers Award, Audience Choice Award and the Star Award, which combines judges’ scores and the money attendees put in fishbowls that night. To support dancers, give a donation to them directly or mail a check to either office of the Freeborn-Mower Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1608 W. Fountain St., Albert Lea, MN 56007 or 305 Fourth Ave. NW, Austin, MN 55912. Guests can also vote with their dollars at the event.

A few $20 and $15 reserved tickets remain. Contact Chris Avery in the Red Cross office at 507-373-4544 for reserved seating. There are also $10 general admission tickets for sale at the Red Cross office or Hy-Vee in Albert Lea and Austin.

The money raised will be used to provide Red Cross services to the residents of Freeborn and Mower Counties. For more information about the Dancing with the Freeborn-Mower Stars event or about the American Red Cross, call 507-373-4544 or 507-437-4589.

This year’s Dancing with the Stars cast includes: Julie Schramek, executive assistant in corporate communications at the Cooperative Response Center, and John “James Allen” Wright, radio personality with KAUS 1480 AM and KCPI “The Breeze”; Jody and Andy Bakken, 2012 University of Minnesota Farm Family of the Year for Freeborn County; Laura Hillman and Ryan Wangen, both teachers and coaches; Afton Wacholz, a certified athletic trainer at Mayo and Albert Lea High School, and Phil Wacholz, civil and environmental engineer with the city of Albert Lea; Donna Berry, retiree from Hormel Foods Corp., and Dylan Kaercher, performer/owner at Enchantertainment; Angie Lair, massage therapist at Massage Connections, and Josh Lair, warehouse manager at Joseph Company, Susie Hulst, sports/fitness director at Albert Lea YMCA, and Weston Hulst, wellness director with Thorne Crest Retirement Community; Tricia Dahl, operations administrator at Mayo, and Dennis Dieser, executive director, at the Albert Lea YMCA.