A best friend, a sibling, a parent – supporting a loved one with cancer, to losing one with an illness or to a tragic accident can be devastating. Community members turned dancers at the 2026 Dancing for Our Stars “A Crystal Celebration” used their personal experience with medical care as inspiration to dress up and dance to support patients being treated at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
The evening ended on a celebratory note when gala chairs, Mike Van Dyke and Katherine Keesal, announced that more than $700,000 — a record‑breaking total for the event — had been raised to support the hospitals.
Inspired by the television series Dancing with the Stars, the 15th annual event paired volunteer dancers with professional partners to deliver dynamic, heartfelt performances — each rooted in a deeply personal story.
More than a night of entertainment, the event became a tribute to resilience. Stories of survivorship and remembrance filled the ballroom, inspiring guests to raise the fundraising thermometer higher in support of patients and families.
One standout participant, Janet Dockstader, danced in honor of the Wound Healing Center at Long Beach Medical Center — a place that profoundly impacted her family. Years ago, her brother was misdiagnosed at another hospital and endured multiple surgeries before being transferred to Long Beach Medical Center, where Garrett Wirth, M.D., medical director, Wound Healing Center, and his team performed the surgeries that ultimately saved his leg.
“The care he received was extraordinary, and for the first time, our family felt true relief knowing he was in the best hands,” shared Dockstader. “Dancing in this year’s event is my way of honoring that experience and supporting Long Beach Medical Center, who gave us so much hope.”
Another highlight came from Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital’s own Torin Cunningham, M.D., medical director, Orthopedic Center, Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, and Carol Cunningham, NP, Orthopedic Center, Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, who danced to honor both the Orthopedic Center and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit — areas that reflect their professional dedication and their family’s journey.
“Our connection to the hospital is deeply personal; both of our sons were born prematurely and spent their first two weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” shared Carol Cunningham. “During that time, we experienced firsthand the extraordinary compassion, expertise and family-centered care that defines Miller Children’s & Women’s. That experience forever shaped how we practice today. What we once received as grateful parents is what we now strive to provide every day as health care providers.”
Additional dancers — Sumer and Jasmin Temple, Katie Jakemer, and Deborah Finklestein, who danced in honor of her late father, Jerry Finkelstein, M.D., the founding medical director of the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, where he dedicated his career to treating patients affected by childhood cancer— also took the stage, each performing not just for entertainment, but for a cause that touches countless families.
“The outcome of this year’s gala is only possible because of the commitment and selflessness of our incredible dancers,” said Rob Gunsalus, president, Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Foundation. “For months, they not only practiced their routines but also worked tirelessly to engage our community in supporting others affected by illness or injury. Their efforts are a shining example of how we can come together to make a real difference.”
