The 2022 Dancing with the Shuswap Stars was an amazing success, posting the highest fundraising total for Shuswap Hospice since the fundraising event started in 2016.
After expenses, this year’s event raised more than $68,000 to support the programs of Shuswap Hospice, which provides care and support to the dying and bereaved across the Shuswap region. This year’s online star sales exceeded all expectations, with dancers posting spectacular fundraising numbers well before the gala event. “We are absolutely thrilled to see how the community stepped up this year to donate more than ever before,” says Carl Flatman, Chair of the Dancing with the Shuswap Stars organizing committee. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported this event ? from the dancers, to the sponsors, to the volunteers, right down to everyone who bought a star vote for their favourite contestant, or came out to enjoy the party.”
This year marked the return of the large-scale event to SASCU Recreation Centre. In 2020 the event was cancelled due to the pandemic, and in 2021, the event was scaled back in size to a hybrid event at Song Sparrow Hall with live streaming. “It was wonderful to have a full house back at the community centre to enjoy the dance performances and for all the guests to get back out on the dance floor themselves,” added Flatman.
The committee wants to give special recognition to DJ Liz Blair who stepped in with only a couple of hours’ notice after some of the members of the band, the Legendary Lake Monsters, came down with COVID-19 and were unable to play.
Planning for the 2023 Dancing with the Shuswap Stars event will begin again in the New Year. An essential feature of the event is the dancers. These are community-minded people who have little-to-no dance training and volunteer their time to perform a dance routine in the show. They also need to be fundraising ambassadors, because the ultimate goal is to raise the most money possible for Shuswap Hospice.
“Without the dancers, we have nothing,” says Tracy Hughes, who leads the dancer recruitment efforts. “We deeply appreciate all the dancers who have put themselves out there to entertain the crowd and bring in funds to support Hospice. We are already looking ahead to find new dancers who would be willing to do the same.”
If you are interested in joining next year’s slate of dancers, please email thughes7@telus.net to put your name on the list of potential candidates.