I had the amazing privilege of photographing this years Stricty Best Foot Forward dance fund raising event for Bury Hospice.

Now in its eigth year it was held for the first time at Holy Cross College in Bury.  An audience of 600 fans,  fund raisers over two shows enjoyed – an Afternoon Tea Dance and the evening final with judging by celebrities and experienced dancers/dance teachers.

The couples began their dancing journey over twelve weeks  being taught by a talented group of volunteers led by Deborah Lisle who founded the event along with Jess Purves and many others.   Unlike the TV Strictly where the dancers train and practice six days a week for one dance these dancers had just one session a week to learn a number of dances to present on the day.

The show began with a routine from the movie Grease with the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds.

Then they moved on to individual dances which were judged in the evening show by celebrity judges and experienced dancers/dance teachers.

The judging team, all supporters of the Hospice were celebrities, Sally Carman-Duttie of Coronation Street fame, Vicky Myers also of Coronation Street, and Erin Shanagher whose credits include the TV drama The Bay and Peaky Blinders.

Joining them were professional dance teachers Alison Park and Alan Newman.

The audience of two shows were treated to dance presentations from professional dancers and past champions.

Professional dancers Jessica Baylis and her partner Thymen Kuipers, and solo dancer Carmen Calvo.

Last years winners Catherine and Adam and competitor in the Bolton Hospice version David “Kenny” Kenyon and his partner.

Dancing congratulations goes to the winners at the end of the night with perfect 10’s from all the judges – teachers Nicola Reynolds and her dance partner Daniel Wood.  Congratulations must also go to all the other contestants for not only their hard work invested in dancing but also for bringing friends and family and helping make a big difference to the Hospice.

The competitive dancing was also mixed with stories about the work of the Hospice and the caring support they give to both the in-patients and the help they provide in hundreds of home visits in the community.

With just eight out of twelve beds open due to funding limitations and only eighteen percent of funding coming from government, fund raising is an ever challenging task for events such as this.

At the end of the night the total raised by the event, announced by Deborah Lisle which was a magnificent achievement of £103,000 almost doubling the previous record.

This event raises the most from a single event so you can imagine how many other events and donations there must be to reach the £5m it takes to run the service.