Strictly-inspired Coventry contest raises £27,000 for charity
Sequins and sparkle ruled the night at a Strictly Come Dancing-inspired dance contest that raised almost £27,000 for mental health charities.Sixteen amateurs paired with professionals to take to the stage in front of a panel of judges and 440-strong crowd at the Albany Theatre, Coventry. The judges were wowed by a series of Latin and ballroom numbers before crowning Alex McGee and her partner Adam as the Strictly Experience 2025 winners.The chief executive of the Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind charity, Steven Hill, said: "Every single pound raised will go towards transforming lives."
Dancers rehearsed for eight weeks to deliver their performances, described by the organisers as "unforgettable".Winning amateur Ms McGee, a vice president at Barclays, said she had danced ballet, jazz and modern when younger but ballroom and Latin were new to her."After turning 40, I decided to push myself and raise funds for Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind, a charity that makes a real difference when life gets tough," she added.
Proceeds from the event on 8 March will go directly to Mind's Coventry Wellbeing Hub, which offers drop-in mental health support.They will also go to the charity's Young Black Men's Project, which aims to empower and build resilience in youths.
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