BUFFALO, N.Y. — Mayo Alanen hasn't been on Dancing with the Stars for several seasons now, but his performances live forever on Youtube. That's how Lauren Wailer became a fan.
"This was someone I greatly admired via YouTube for quite a bit," the college student told 2 On Your Side.
Turns out, the pair had a mutual friend who offered to connect them.
"She told him a little bit about me, and then he spontaneously messaged me the next morning," Walier said.
"I sent her a Facebook message and I was like, 'Lauren, I just heard about you from my friend, and I want to meet you and I want to dance with you. If you can please come to New York City any time, I will give you free lessons,'" Mayo said on a recent visit to Buffalo.
Next thing she knew, Lauren was on her way to New York City for a lesson with her idol to celebrate her 18th birthday.
"What I love about that story is it just shows his kindness," Lauren recalled.
Lauren wasn't like any student Mayo had taught. She is living with cerebral palsy, and the physical limitations of the disorder.
"She had determination. She had will power, and I was really touched by her willingness to just put herself out there and try," Alanen said of their first meeting.
The pair formed an instant bond, and decided to keep dancing together. They've been all over the world since to compete in ballroom competitions, taking home trophy after trophy.
" These are not competitions against other disabled couples. These are competitions against total able-bodied humans," Alanen explained.
"It's a dream come true. It's this kind of beautiful moment of connecting in this really unique way with your best friend," said Walier.
Mayo and Lauren's next performance will be to "This is Me" from the musical The Greatest Showman, at the annual gala for her Make LemonAide Foundation this weekend at Asbury Hall. Lauren grew up in the south, but her parents are from Hamburg, and Mayo makes the trip to Buffalo every year for this event.
You can purchase tickets to the Lemon Twist Gala II and learn more about how to support the foundation by clicking here.