For as long as I’ve known Mary Gray, all she’s ever dreamed about is directing “Footloose: The Musical” on stage.

She’s had this entire play planned out in her head since she was 16, and maybe even before then. All she’s ever talked about for the past 4 years is Footloose, Footloose, Footloose.

Lord knows if you started her on the topic, you’d better make sure you had a solid half hour of free time, because you were gonna be there a while. Even when I was supposed to be tutoring her in French, we would inevitably end up talking about Footloose and her endless ideas.

But you know what? I never cared. There was always something about the way her face lit up when she was talking about it that got you excited too (and I hate Footloose). She is so intensely passionate about this play that it’s contagious.

And now, at the age of 20, she’s finally doing it.

At the beginning of the school year, she held her auditions, and now, on March 27th and 28th, “Footloose: The Musical” will take place on Brock University’s stage.

Unfortunately, it’s not been all rainbows and sunshine.

There’s been some drama – some very pointless drama. And certain not-so-nice people have threatened to sabotage this precious dream of hers.

I’m sorry, but there will be no sabotaging of dreams while I’m still alive and kicking.

Mary is the nicest person alive.  She will give you the shirt off her back, and her skin too if you really need it. She will help a total stranger just because she hates seeing anyone suffer.

She’s been through a lot these past few years and been taken advantage of by some really horrible people who abuse the fact that she is so trusting and loving. And it always eats her up inside, I think in part, because she is such a genuinely nice person that she can’t understand why someone would want to be so mean and manipulative.

Well, those bastards can go to hell. She’s my Mary and they can’t have her.

Mary was one of the first people to believe in me – she would always tell me that I was going to be famous and that my work was amazing. Her family was one of the first to commission a painting. She has unwaveringly supported and encouraged me, even when I had lost faith in myself.

A friend and a soul as beautiful as that is something to be treasured forever.

So I’m going to do what I can to help. I’m designing her posters, and I’m now PR consultant and advertising manager – as she put it, if St. Catharines isn’t puking Footloose by March, we’ve been doing something wrong.

And now, I’m going to ask all you nice people to help as well.

To hold her play, Mary needs to pay the theater a deposit of $2010.66 by January 23rd. And then another $2010.66 a month later on February 22nd.

That first payment, my friends, is less than 2 weeks away.

And that’s not including the other $7000.00 in costs for mics, props, set and lighting. And a billion other tiny little costs that keep adding up.

Now, she’s not just sitting on her patootie hoping the money will appear out of nowhere – she’s out there selling tickets, cookie dough and holding an “80′s Prom” fundraiser event.

But if she can’t raise that money?

Footloose won’t happen.

I know that there are far more tragic and worthy causes out there right now than a revival of an 80′s classic. This obviously isn’t a life or death situation. No kittens will die if Mary’s play doesn’t happen.

But it’ll probably break Mary’s heart.

And you’ve got to admire this girl’s balls. She had a dream, and she went for it, when most other people would have said they don’t have the money or the time. She could have used this excuse – she’s a student, she’s got towers of homework, other plays, student debt, a job and a car she can barely afford, yet without it she wouldn’t be able to go to school.

Yet still, she did it.

I guess my asking for a donation is my way of affirming to the Universe and everyone in it, that yes, we may be in the middle of a soul-crushing depression, and the world may seem bleak and cruel, but even today, dreams are still coming true.

Only if we help though.

I’m not asking for a lot. A couple dollars here and there. But if we can get enough people to donate a couple dollars here and there, then maybe we can help Mary out, take a bit of the pressure off for her.

We can show her that even if certain horrible people are giving her crap, many more people still believe in her.

She has no idea that I’m doing this – she’s never asked for a cent. But she deserves it.

Anything you could give would be great. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

P.S. Bonus – your name goes on the program as an official sponsor!