Hospice patients are have a ball this week and picking up their scoring paddles as staff and volunteers take to the dancefloor for St Elizabeth Hospice Does Strictly.
Each day this week a different dance school has been at St Elizabeth Hospice’s day centre in Ipswich to teach a one-hour class on the basics of Cha Cha, Jive, Charleston, Waltz and Salsa.
At the end of each session, four pairs of staff and volunteers performed for the patients who then scored them out of 10 – just as the judges do on Strictly Come Dancing.
On Saturday, five finalist couples will compete for the trophy.
Kate Barber, day services sister at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Patients who come to hospice day care are dealing with a progressive illness which encompasses multiple losses; loss of health, independence and social interaction. Hospice day services is about enablement so with symptom control, therapy input and doctor and nurse interventions we can enable patients to live their life as full as possible.
St Elizabeth Hospice Does Strictly embodies this enablement concept and ensures that patients and their families can still feel part of the community and enjoy a sense of normality.
Kate also thanked The Lait School, Cowling Dance Academy, Ipswich School of Dance and DanceVibe for taking part.
Nikki Ruffles and Bex O’Connell will be dancing the Cha Cha
Sean Buckner and Catherine Sheppard – Jive
Joanne Rodger and Debbie Wright – Charleston
Danny Jones (volunteer) and Jemma Wood – Waltz
Sue T and Tracey Cory – Salsa
Anyone is welcome to come along to the Hospice Does Strictly final on Saturday 19 November from 3pm – 5pm at St Elizabeth Hospice in Foxhall Road.