Air Ambulance Charity: Dance Competition Funds ‘Will Save Lives’

An air ambulance charity stated that funds generated by a local dance competition are expected to “save lives”. Strictly Northampton, an event orchestrated by the Step-By-Step dance school, involves members of the public pairing with professional dancers for an eight-week training period. Participants subsequently perform at the Royal & Derngate theatre in the town, and the revenue generated benefits local charitable organizations. Currently in its 13th iteration, the £56,000 collected from this event will contribute to the funding of The Air Ambulance Service, an organization that operates across five counties, one of which is Northamptonshire. This charity, which responds to approximately 10 emergencies daily, operates without government funding, depending entirely on contributions from donations and fundraising initiatives. Karen Hughes, a communications fundraiser executive and also a dance contestant, commented: “The money everybody raised is brilliant. It will save lives.” She described her participation in the competition as “absolutely mad” and “a hell of an experience.” Another contestant, Karin Keir-Bucknall, a business teacher employed at Northampton College, successfully raised over £1,000. She decided to enter because she had been a “keen dancer with lots of energy” throughout her life. She stated: “I have always been the first one on the dance floor and the last one to leave, so this was a super experience for me.” She added: “I loved meeting new people and experiencing the joy of life.” For updates on Northamptonshire news, consult BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.