THE second ‘Stand up to Cancer’ Zumbathon, held at Amery Hill School last Saturday, is expected to raise around £4,000 for Cancer Research UK.

It is a staggering amount, from an event which has been declared “bigger and better” this year, attracting 200 dancers and at least 100 more people who went along to see the action, have a treatment, buy zumbawear, or sample the home-baked cakes.

Run by an enthusiastic team of zumba instructors, the event was opened by Nicola Dunford, local fundraising manager for Cancer Research UK, followed by the cutting of the ribbon by Alton mayor Matthew Bayliss. And they were all wearing pink!

The event was run by zumba instructors Kate Sadler, Karen Dixon, Mandy Wilson, Alison Edwards and Samantha Bower, who put the participants through their paces for the first two hours.

The last hour was led by zumba jammer and professional dancer Sarah-Anne Pountney. The finale was a dance battle to ‘Proud Mary’ and then a circle of hands to ‘Angels’ by Robbie Williams.

“It was quite an emotional end as many people’s lives in the room have been touched by cancer,” said Kate, who went on to express grateful thanks to those people who had supported the event and made it all happen.

She included Amery Hill School “for the fantastic venue and staging” and the intention is to donate the proceeds of the raffle and refreshments, around £300, to support the purchase of new outdoor furniture for the school’s special needs quad.

In addition, thanks went to Aldi for providing the water and bananas for the dancers, Bows and Bouquets for the flower arrangements, TL Entertainment for the sound system, Sole Purpose for reflexology and massage treatments, Taylored Beauty for “all the pink glittery lips and beauty treatments”, to the stall holders, those who baked cakes, provided raffle prizes and, above all, “to those who danced their socks off for Cancer Research UK. Some as young as four others aged 80. Zumba is truly for everyone!” said Kate.