General manager of Dubbo City Toyota & Gilgandra Toyota Ben Thompson is leading the fundraising among 11 “stars” who have set aside their pride and laced up dance shoes as part of a bid to beat cancer.
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On Tuesday afternoon Mr Thompson was on top of the fundraising ladder for Stars of Dubbo 2017-Dance for Cancer, with about $10,500 in his kitty. Second was Dubbo Hospital’s Dr Jeniffer Fiore-Chapman with almost $5500.
Third, fourth and fifth were Anna Rindfleish from the Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation, Damien Larnach from Landmark and Sarah Ryan from Reece Plumbing, respectively. Each have raised more than $4000, helping to build the current fundraising tally of almost $32,000.
Proceeds from the night will help Cancer Council NSW conduct research, prevent cancer, support people struck down by the disease and lobby governments to “take action”. More than $100,000 was raised at the event in 2016, with ticket sales included in the final figure.
Cancer Council Western NSW community relations coordinator Katherine Hodges has reminded Dubbo residents not to wait to buy tickets to the May 6 event at Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre. She expects all 550 tickets to be sold with family and friends eager to support the stars who are asked to raise a minimum of $2500.
Ms Hodges said this year an “overwhelming” number of Dubbo residents offered to step out of their comfort zone and take to the stage. “I think it’s because so many people have been touched by cancer,” she said.
The other competitors in the Stars of Dubbo 2017- Dance for Cancer are Andrew Hockey from the Def Chef, Justine Richards from Regand Park Early Childhood Centre, Alex Richardson-Bell from Buninyong Public School, Jeremy Wiatkowski from Barnson, Krystal Laughton from Dubbo Touch Association and livestock auctioneer Joe Portelli.
Ms Hodges said the stars were rehearsing routines in genres including “Irish dance, Zumba, belly dancing and hip hop”. They are being instructed by teachers from Zumba with Tracy, Stepping out Dance Factory, the Shimmering Gems, Orana Dance Centre, Spreagadh na Rince Irish Dance Studio and Paris Burns.
Sponsors of the event are Dubbo City Toyota, Sydney University’s School of Rural Health, BCG Building, Captain Snooze and the the Meadow Floral Design. Volunteer organisers are Caitlin Gray, Vanessa Smith, Ann-mare Chandler and Karen Isbester.
Tickets costing $100 each can be bought at www.123tix.com.au/events/616/stars-of-dubbo-dance-for-cancer. To make a donation go to www.everydayhero.com.au/event/starsofdubbo2017/our-stars.
