Saturday, 9 November, 2024

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In a spectacular effort by White River women, a whopping R100 000 was raised for the White River Hospice. The event initially raised R84 000, but a donation was received last night from a private benefactor, bringing the amount to R100 000.

Dancing Queens raise R100 000 for White River Hospice

In a spectacular effort by White River women, a whopping R100 000 was raised for the White River Hospice. The event initially raised R84 000, but a donation was received last night from a private benefactor, bringing the amount to R100 000.

After months of preparation, the local production of Mia!Mamma was performed over two nights in front of a very enthusiastic crowd at Picasso’s Mexican Taqueria at the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre in White River.

It all started when Angela Kent decided to use her 55th birthday on 18 October as a fundraising event for White River Hospice.

From left to right: Terran Gericke (Hospice), Sr. Elsa Swanepoel (Hospice), Angela Kent (creator of the fundraiser event), Naomi Spencer (Dancing Queens), Leoni Viljoen (Dancing Queens), Angelique Kruger (Hospice), Donna James (Mindful Marketing) and Tracey Russell (Dancing Queen).

“Hospice is very close to my heart and I spoke to some of my friends and we decided to go for it. We rehearsed for six months and during this time I met so many new people while getting fit at the same time,” she says.

Angela and her crew decided to make this an annual event where they will donate the proceeds to a different organisation every time.

“I am absolutely ecstatic about how the event turned out and I am looking forward to another show next year,” Angela says.

Di Atherton.

Terran Gericke of White River Hospice says she was completely overwhelmed by the support of the community.

“I have never seen such an effort by a community. It was an amazing event. We are so grateful. I have no words. Never in a million years have I expected that an event like this would raise R84 000. Angela Kent really is a super woman!” 

Terran says the money will be used to cover operational costs for looking after the 27 patients on their books.

Donna James of the main sponsor, Mindful Marketing, says community efforts like these are what her company is all about.

“We believe in living for a purpose. It was such a fantastic event. The ladies who took part in the production were all volunteers that gave their time to help others. And while we did that, we had so much fun!

“Hospice is such a worthy cause and we, or someone we love, might very well need their services one day,” Donna says.

She says Mindful Marketing will definitely stay involved with this event in the future.

Di Atherton, vice-chairperson of White River Hospice, wrote on Facebook after the event, calling it “ordinary people doing extraordinary things, supported by their community”.

“I watched the faces of proud husbands as their wives performed and the cheering and singing along as a couple of hundred dancing queens supported this group of hot mammas (on the stage). The vibe was incredible. I have never seen or felt anything like it. Music brings people together,” she wrote.

She also thanked the sponsors that made the event possible: Mindful Marketing, YOONS Eatery, Nut Grove, Boutique Hotel, AVS Hire, Picasso’s Mexican Taqueria, Spier Wine Farm, Galito’s, Sheer Elegance, LV Social, Media Management, Nelspruit Trailer Parts, Truk Afrik, Zannas, Life-Form Taxidermy, Road Lodge Mbombela, City Lodge Hotel Maputo, Norse Projects, Craftsmen and Engineering.

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