Presenter Zoe Salmon launches Chance to Dance Northern Ireland
Press release published
|
Zoe Salmon took a break from presenting to put on her dancing shoes and officially launch Marie Curie's Chance To Dance event. The former ‘Dancing on Ice’ contestant, who is no stranger to busting a few dance moves was seen practicing her salsa steps with Ulster Salsa and Open Irish Salsa Champions Stephen McCune and Vicki Calvert ahead of next month’s Chance to Dance event in Lisburn. Chance to Dance gives people the unique opportunity to learn four different dance styles in one day before coming together with hundreds of other participants as part of a group dance. Every step performed will help Marie Curie provide more free nursing care to terminally ill patients in their own homes or at one of the charity’s hospices. The event, which is being held at Lagan Valley Island Lisburn on Sunday 7th November will include a range of dance lessons from Salsa and Flamenco through to the Cha Cha, Quickstep and even Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’. Each class is tailored to suit any ability, so whether you’re a complete beginner or a dancing pro, there’ll be something for you. Commenting on her support for Chance to Dance, Zoe Salmon said: “Chance To Dance is a fantastic opportunity to learn some new dance moves whilst raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Even if you’ve got two left feet you’re sure to have a lot of fun and the money raised will allow more Marie Curie Nurses to provide free care to patients with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes or one of the charity’s hospices.” Teresa Sloan, Regional Events Manager for Marie Curie Northern Ireland added: “This year we hope to raise a staggering £20,000 from people taking part in Chance to Dance. Last year, Marie Curie Nurses in NI cared for over 1000 patients in the community, the hospice cared for 250 patients and over 2000 day care appointments were provided for patients with terminal cancer and other illnesses totally free. Remember, just £20 will pay for one hour of care from a Marie Curie Nurse." -ENDS- |
Contact information
Marie Curie press office
- 0844 893 2101
- media@mariecurie.org.uk
Updated
Notes to editor
Registration is £15 per person and includes an exclusive Chance to Dance t-shirt.
Dancers Stephen McClune & Vicki Calvert have been dancing together for 3 years and are the current Open Irish and Ulster Salsa Champions. They are also the Irish Waltzing and Ballroom Federation, Latin and Competitive Jive Champions. They have attended dance weekends in Blackpool where they have been taught by some of the stars from Strictly Come Dancing, namely Vincent, Flavia, Darren, Lilia, Matthew and Nicole Cuttler.
In Northern Ireland Marie Curie Cancer Care employs more that 200 Marie Curie Nurses who work in the community to provide end of life care, totally free for patients in their own home.
Marie Curie Cancer Care runs the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast with 18 inpatient beds, outpatient clinics, day therapy, family support and child bereavement services. On average, around 2,335 people visit the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast each month.
Marie Curie also runs similar satellite Day Therapy services in Lisburn and Downpatrick and Ards Community Centre and provides services which cost over £4.5million. While NHS funding covers some of this, most is provided from generous support of thousands of individuals, membership organisations and businesses.
Marie Curie Cancer Care is one of the UK’s largest charities. Employing more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, it expects to provide care to around 29,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year and is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
Funding
Around 70 per cent of the charity’s income comes from the generous support of thousands of individuals, membership organisations and businesses, with the balance of our funds coming from the NHS.
Marie Curie Nurses
The charity is best known for its network of Marie Curie Nurses working in the community to provide end-of-life care, totally free for patients in their own homes.
Research
The charity has two centres for palliative care research, The Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Unit at University College London and The Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute in Liverpool. It also funds seven fundamental scientific research groups which investigate the causes and treatments of cancer. This research was previously carried out at the Marie Curie Research Institute in Oxted, Surrey. The programmes are now located in universities around the country, and will receive funding from the charity until 2012.
Supporting the choice to die at home
Research shows around 65 per cent of people would like to die at home if they had a terminal illness, with a sizeable minority opting for hospice care. However, more than 50 per cent of cancer deaths still occur in hospital, the place people say they would least like to be. Since 2004 Marie Curie Cancer Care has been campaigning for more patients to be able to make the choice to be cared for and die at home.
Tags:
- Celebrity
- Fundraising