Strictly dancefloor success for Lindsey and Lydia

The magic of the movies hit the dance floor in Leeds on Saturday as we staged our Strictly Get Dancing competition and raised £30,000.

Colleagues Lindsey Hegarty and Lydia Clayton danced their way to victory in the event at Aspire, beating seven other couples to take the glitter ball trophy after dancing an Argentine tango, the foxtrot and cha-cha-cha.

For Lindsey, 42, from Leeds, the win was particularly special as we cared for her sister Rachel Love, when her son Harrison Phillips died aged just one week.

She said: ‘It was an absolutely amazing experience, and when we won it was quite emotional for me, because my nephew was at Martin House. When I was going to the dance rehearsals each week, my niece would say “you’re going to dance for Harrison”.

‘It means so much more because I was doing it for my sister and nephew, and I’m so proud of everyone who took part, and proud to have done it, it was brilliant.

‘I’m also eternally grateful to Lydia, who stepped in when I said I wanted to do Strictly, and agreed to dance with me.’

Eight couples performed in front of celebrity judges Emmerdale’s Katherine Dow Blyton, Hollyoaks’ Bethannie Hare and Married at First Sight’s Daniel McKee — with his husband Matt Jameson hosting the event.

As well as the top prize, couple Zoe and Paul Bojelian — who danced in memory of their son Adam, who died at Martin House in 2015 — were named top fundraisers, raising over £4,000, and Tracey and Andy Hobbs won the most improved dancers award.

The money raised will help us to care for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions from across West, North and East Yorkshire, including planned respite, emergency and symptom control stays, end of life care and bereavement support.

Nikki Denton, our events fundraising manager, said: ‘All of our dancers were amazing and put on a wonderful show, and helped to make it a fantastic night. I’d like to say a special thanks to our dance teachers Jean Harvey and Andy Gant, who did an incredible job of coaching our contestants for six weeks to turn them into dancers.’

You can  still donate to Lindsey and Lydia’s fundraising page.