Dance group donates quilts to Boston bombing victim

WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- The Glencastle Irish dance group from West Allis is making quilts to donate to the sister of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy killed in the Boston bombings.

Six-year-old Jane Richard, and her mother, were also injured in the blast. Jane lost one of her legs. When the local dancers heard that Jane had just taken up Irish dancing, they knew they wanted to help.

"We said hey why don't we get like 20-30 dance studios from around the world to donate a shirt to us from their school. We'll put it together and make a quilt and we'll call it Wrapping Jane in Love," said Trish Johnson.

Trish and her daughter Bree started a Facebook campaign and so far more than 413 schools are helping out. A few notable dancers are even donating medals and costumes to be sewn into the quilt.

The Johnson's plan to fly to Boston at the end of May to help a local quilt maker with the project. The quilts will be delivered to Jane's dance school where her teacher will present them when the time is right.

"Anything we can do for her we'll do and make sure she knows the love of the Irish," notes Johnson.