When a crowd of people dance to the Michael Jackson song “Thriller” at Bedford High School a week before Halloween, they will not just be part of an effort to set a world record for the largest simultaneous dance. They will also be raising money to help a local girl and other victims of a debilitating, degenerative neuromuscular disorder.

Ticket proceeds from “Thrill the World, Bedford, N.H.” will be sent to an organization committed to finding a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia. The money will be channeled through Holly’s Hope, a local nonprofit organization named for Holly Franz, 15, of Bedford, who is battling FA.

“I think it’s an extremely important cause,” said one of Holly’s friends, Kelsey Poremba, 17, who is organizing the Oct. 24 charity event. “Holly is a member of our community. We should support her and her family.”

The fundraiser is part of Thrill the World, an international dance event and world-record-breaking attempt. As the people gathered in Bedford High’s gymnasium dance in unison to “Thriller” at 8:30 that night, so too will others in Beijing, Johannesburg, Buenos Aires and other places around the globe.

Thrill the World, created by Canadian dance teacher Ines Markeljevic, evolved from a dance with 62 participants three years ago and has since grown into an international phenomenon that draws thousands of participants.

Last year, 4,179 people in 10 countries simultaneously performed the dance. Because of Jackson’s death last June, organizers expect more participants this year.

Poremba, a senior, is enrolled in Bedford High’s International Baccalaureate program. Her fundraising efforts will help her fulfill the program’s Creativity Action and Service (CAS) activities requirement.

“I think it’s a really cool idea,” said Holly, a BHS sophomore.

Approximately 1 in 50,000 people in the United States have FA. Progressive loss of muscle strength and coordination in its victims leads to motor incapacitation and full-time wheelchair use.

Signs and symptoms may include muscle weakness in legs and arms, vision impairment, hearing loss, abnormal speech, curvature of the spine, heart disorders, and fatigue due to energy deprivation and muscle loss. Some victims develop diabetes.

Holly started showing signs of the disease around the age of 9 – walking off balance and swaying while trying to zip her coat were early signs – but she wasn’t officially diagnosed until she was 11.

So far, the disorder has mainly affected her legs. She often uses a wheelchair. Although she loves tennis, soccer and gymnastics, she can no longer play sports.

Holly and her friend, Jess Wojenski, started Holly’s Hope. The organization sells handmade jewelry and donates the proceeds to Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, known as FARA, to help find a cure.

Anyone can participate in the Oct. 24 fundraiser. But participants must know how to do the dance when they arrive.

“That’s the biggest thing – to know it before (the event),” said Poremba. “Because it takes a solid two, three hours, depending on how skilled you are as a dancer, (to learn it).”

People can learn the six-minute dance on their own – teaching videos are available online – or they can attend one of the October workshops that Poremba is organizing. People who attend a workshop will be registered for the dance.

So far, approximately 100 people plan to participate in the fundraiser.

“We’re hoping to get as many (people) as possible,” said Wojenski, a BHS senior who is serving as Poremba’s assistant event manager.

“Thriller” is a hit song that was released in the early 1980s. A 14-minute video of the same name features Jackson dancing with zombies and a rap by Vincent Price.

Thrill the World organizers hope to have 270,000 participants this year in order to break a Guinness World Record. According to the event’s Web site, there are registered events in 42 states and 34 countries. Some participants will be dancing during the wee hours of the morning in their time zone.

There are volunteer event organizers in communities throughout the world and each event can raise money for a charity. With patience and the right attitude, according to organizers, anyone – from kids to grandparents – can learn the dance in just a couple of hours.

Participants at the Bedford event are welcome to wear costumes. Poremba, Franz and Wojenski will be dressed as zombies.

Poremba has been drawing praise for her efforts. Her mother, Helen, is excited that she’s organizing a big event that supports a great cause. Many of Poremba’s friends are participating and her teachers like the idea, too.

“A lot of them think it’s great and they’re really supportive,” said Poremba.

Want to participate?
“Thrill the World, Bedford, N.H.” will take place in the Bedford High School gymnasium, 47 Nashua Road, on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Registration begins at 6 p.m., rehearsal kicks off at 6:30 p.m. and the dance starts at 8:30 p.m.

The cost is $5 per person to dance or watch. Spectators should arrive at 8 p.m.

Participants must know how to do the dance. They can learn it at www.thrilltheworld.com/learn/videos. There will also be optional workshops to learn the dance from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 10, in the school gymnasium.

Workshop participants should bring $5 to register for the dance. To participate, contact Kelsey Poremba at ttw09.bedfordhighNH@gmail.com. For information about the event, go to www.thrilltheworld.com. Information about Holly’s Hope is available at www.hollyshope.pbworks.com.

Information about the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance is available at www.curefa.org.