THE annual Strictly St Rocco’s event has raised a sensational £61,000 for the Warrington based hospice.
Billed to be a night of sass, sparkle and sequins it certainly didn’t disappoint as Corporate Bank Manager Liz Williamson, dancing the Paso Doble with professional partner Lewis Crowder was crowned Strictly St. Rocco’s 2018.
Sponsored by Rybrook Jaguar, 10 brave amateur dancers burst onto the dance floor with their professional partners from Cadmans Dance Centre in front of 400 guests at Mere Golf Resort & Spa, to raise much needed funds to support patient care at the Warrington-based hospice.
The volunteer dancers have been hard at work over the last few months, not only perfecting their routines, but raising vital sponsorship to help St. Rocco’s to continue to deliver its care. Jan Costello, patient at St. Rocco’s Vitality Centre shared with guests the difference that the care she has received has made to her. By the end of the evening over £61,000 had been raised through the dancers’ fundraising efforts and through the generosity of guests on the night.
The standard of the dancing this year was as high as ever and certainly impressed the four judges, Victoria Bennett, Principal of Cadmans,
Ian Mackinnon, patron of St. Rocco’s and previous Strictly St. Rocco’s dancer, Karen Speers, principal of AT Dance and Ralph Casson, actor and dancer. This year two contestants, Andrea Hildrup dancing the quickstep and Liz Williamson dancing the Paso Doble both scored 4 perfect tens.
Once the audience votes had been combined with the judges scores was Liz and her partner Lewis, who were crowned Strictly St. Rocco’s 2018 champions, with Emile Kreisler and his dance partner Amy Hancock runners up with their jive.
And then it was over to the audience as Chris Millward and Victoria Bennett from Cadmans led the traditional mass merengue before everyone danced the night away to the sound of the Chris O’Grady Roadshow.
“This is the sixth year of Strictly St. Rocco’s and we are thrilled to have raised over £61,000 to help our patients and families,” said Rachel Ingham, Fundraising Manager for St. Rocco’s.
“Our dancers have worked so hard to master their dancers and to raise an incredible amount of sponsorship. They have been so supportive of each other and we couldn’t be more proud of every one of them. Without people in the Warrington community coming together to support our patients and families in ways like this we simply would not be able to continue to deliver our care. We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the success of this year’s event.”
Thoughts are already turning to Strictly St. Rocco’s 2019 so keep an eye out to see who will be in next year’s Strictly spotlight. In the meantime if you would like to help staff at St. Rocco’s make Christmas special for patients and families this year, you can make donation to their Christmas Appeal at www.stroccos.org.uk.
The full line up of amateur dancers, professional partners and dances was as follows:
Andrea Hilldrup – Teacher, St. Wilfred’s CE Primary School, Grappenhall dancing the Quick Step with professional partner Callam Thomson
Keith Robertson – Director & Independent Financial Adviser, Harrington Robertson Wealth Management Limited dancing the American Smooth with professional partner Holly Hewitt
Sarah Derbyshire – Business Manager, McDonald’s dancing the samba with professional partner Alex Whyatt
Shaun McDermott – Contract Manager, Torus Housing dancing the Charleston with professional partner Natalie Goodier
Caz Clair – Lead Complementary Therapist, St. Rocco’s Hospice dancing the Waltz with professional partner Michael Champion
Adey Lummis – Barber, The Original Barbershop, Stockton Heath dancing the Cha, Cha, Cha with professional partner Leah Hughes
Alison Moody – General Manager, Manflex Ltd dancing the Tango with professional partner Chris Millward
Daniel Lee – Head of Clinical Negligence, Clear Law dancing the Salsa with professional partner Georgina Burke
Liz Williamson – Corporate Bank Manager, Handelsbanken dancing the Paso Doble with professional partner Lewis Crowder
Emile Kreisler – Managing Director, Smithfields, Stockton Heath dancing the Jive with professional partner Amy Hancock
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