Dancers inspire students to fund-raise for hospice (From Watford Observer)

Dancers inspire students to fund-raise for hospice

1:30pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in News By Amie Mulderrig

Dancers from the Watford Peace Hospice’s Strictly Come Dancing competition inspired students from an Abbots Langley school to raise hundreds of pounds for the charity.

On Friday, January 27, students from Tanners Wood School in School Mead decided to hold a sponsored dress down day.

According to teacher Liza Craggs, this came about after the school’s council read about the Peace Hospice’s fundraising efforts.

The Year 5 and 6 teacher said: “The council decided that it wanted to increase its charitable efforts this year, so decided to hold a dress down day to raise money for the hospice.

“I happen to know one of the dancers in the hospice’s Strictly Come Dancing competition, Claire Cameron. Not only does she help out at school with productions, but she is also a friend of mine.

“I asked her if she and her dance partner Adam Meehan would be up for performing in a special talent assembly on the same Friday.

“They were really keen and the children were completely taken by surprise.

“Many of them watch Strictly Come Dancing on television, but Claire and Adam’s performance was slightly different, they performed a ballroom dance to rock music.

“The children were enthralled and it spurred them on to raise money for the hospice.”

Students paid £1 to come into school in their own clothes and altogether managed to raise about £270 for the Watford Peace Hospice.

The dance performance also inspired a number of children to ask their families to purchase tickets for the Strictly Come Hospice competition at the Watford Colosseum on Friday, February 17.

All cash raised from the event, the final dance contest to be hosted by the hospice, will go to the charity.

Describing the importance of supporting the Peace Hospice, Ms Craggs said: “The hospice is such a valuable organisation and I’m glad our students have been able to help raise money.

“Not only is it a local cause, but hospice staff go above and beyond to ensure that its patients are well cared for. They are worth their weight in gold.

“My own father, Dave, passed away from cancer. He ended up dying in a hospital, which for me, felt like a very sterile environment.

“But the hospice ensures that your final days are peaceful, so that you can make that transition easily.”