Step aside Helen Skelton, for there’s a new ballroom star in town.
Strictly Come Dancing fans may be glued to their screens at home but here at WeDo there’s real-life fancy footwork and glitzy costumes to enjoy. Our Operational Take On Manager Jacqui Cryer took up ballroom dancing last year and is now turning her hobby into a fundraising enterprise.
Inspirational Jacqui, along with best friend Jessica, have entered the Strictly Best Foot Forward competition in aid of Bury Hospice. They agreed to spend 13 weeks learning four dances to be performed in front of a live audience.
Jacqui said: “I have been asked for reasons why I am taking part in Strictly Best Foot Forward, and the simple answer is because I can!
During lockdown, I, like many others, missed the freedom of going out and doing things. I decided that when life got back to normal that I would seize opportunities, and say yes to more things. So 12 months ago I took up dancing as a hobby and when the chance to take part in the Strictly challenge arose it was like it was meant to be.
I’m learning new skills, dancing with one of my closest friends and helping to raise money for a charity which is vital to my local community.”
Jacqui and Jessica are on week four of their training. They’ve mastered the basic routines and are now working on perfecting arm placements, head turns and having a graceful neckline.
At the end of November they’ll perform waltz, foxtrot, rock and roll numbers plus a ‘cheesy’ group dance.
The whole team at WeDo is incredibly proud of Jacqui’s enterprising fundraising, which shows how our staff go the extra mile for causes they believe in.
It’s an ethos we’ve held dear for three years now after we celebrated our third birthday together last month. In that time we’ve grown to have more than 90 members of staff in one wonderful united team.
Bury Hospice is an incredible place. It provides invaluable palliative and end-of-life care and support to the local community and their families.
Their services include a specialist 24 hour inpatient unit, medical and respite facilities, complementary therapy, family bereavement support, and a weekly Christie blood and SACT clinic. They also have a dedicated community outreach team who service the needs of patients and their families in their own homes.
Every year it costs £3.5million to run Bury Hospice, and as a charity they need to raise £3 million through community support.
Last year the hospice’s Strictly event raised £38,000, which paid to employ a nurse for the whole year. This year the aim is to smash this target.
Jacqui added: “I am hoping our lovely, kind-hearted colleagues and clients will support us on this journey and help to raise some funds for a vital community service. Every donation makes a difference.
Thanks in advance and massive apologies for boring everyone to tears with stories about the latest steps I’ve learned or costume/shoes we will be wearing.”