Friday night’s Stars of the Bega Valley Dance for Cancer can be described as nothing other than a sparkling success.
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With only a month’s preparation and publicity, eight “stars” of the region with their brilliant dance teachers performed to a sell-out crowd in the Club Sapphire auditorium.
There were plenty of cheers, applause – and laughter – as the eight couples twirled, leaped and boogied their way around the dance floor.
Most incredibly, close to an amazing $15,000 was raised in the process.
Star of the night was Jacqui Smith of Merimbula’s Wheelers Restaurant, who, with her dance teacher Raymond McGovern, raised the most in donations even before hitting the dance floor, then took out “people’s choice” with the most additional donations on the night.
She also wowed the judges enough to claim best dance as well as best costume for a Pink Panther-inspired ballroom number.
Other “stars” taking to the dance floor on the night were editor Ben Smyth, local musician Paul Dion, Nat Kirby from Merimbula Tourism, Bega Chamber of Commerce president and Mal’s Pizza Bite owner Mal Barnes, Pambula Bike Show organiser Glenn Cotter, 2EC radio presenter Geordi Norton and Pambula’s Jess Ryan.
Cancer Council NSW community engagement manager for the southern region Grant Plecas said the night was “everything I expected, and more”.
“Our focus for the first event was on engaging the community in a fun way, so to walk away with $15,000 for our fist event and to feel the energy in the room was amazing,” Mr Plecas said on Monday.
“The crowd embraced it and I’m really pleased with how much of a buzz it created.”
Mr Plecas said his intention is to make it an annual event, with expressions of interest in taking part already filling up.
Money raised will be directed into further developing and expanding the Cancer Council’s programs of education and prevention in the Bega Valley and South Coast.
