Cerebral palsy charity Stick ‘n’ Step held a spectacular Strictly Come Dancing themed fundraising event at Thornton Hall last weekend.
The event raised over £46,000 with funds still coming in, including almost £14,000 in sponsorship from the contestants.
Nine volunteers, each partnered with a professional dancer, put on their dancing shoes and strutted their stuff on the dancefloor. Each contestant had just 10 lessons over a couple of months to perfect a dance routine and the results were amazing, with some wonderful dancing on display.
Sarah Curtis, head teacher at Meadow Community Primary School in Ellesmere Port, lifted the glitterball trophy as the winner of the night. She danced a Viennese waltz with professional dancer Mario from Turbo Dance, to the theme tune of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Sarah and her husband are long-term supporters of Stick ‘n’ Step as Sarah’s best friend’s nephew, Oscar, has attended conductive education classes at the charity Stick ‘n’ Step for years.
Clare Letham, a GP from Manchester, whose five-year-old son Xander attends Stick ‘n’ Step’s Runcorn centre, won the People’s Choice award for her beautiful waltz to How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding, with professional dancer Stephen from Licence to Dance.
Guests enjoyed a three-course meal before being treated to a showcase performance from the professional dancers and of course the Strictly-style competition itself. An auction and a raffle rounded off the evening.
Joanne Fowler, Corporate Fundraiser at Stick ‘n’ Step, said, “We would like to say a huge thank you to all our friends and supporters, including our sponsors Slater & Gordon, for making this year’s Strictly event such a success.
“The dancers worked so hard and really surpassed themselves. The funds raised will go towards providing our much-needed services for babies, children and young people across the region.
“Our Just Giving page is still open and it would be fantastic if we could reach £50,000, so anyone who wishes to donate can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/strictlysticknstep2023 
”
Stick ‘n’ Step provides free weekly conductive education sessions to children and young people with cerebral palsy up to the age of 25, allowing them to gain the skills they need to live more independent lives. The charity relies on supporters and volunteers to help raise the £750,000 required to deliver its services to over 100 families each year at its Wallasey and Runcorn centres.
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