Nine Dance Couples Gear Up for Strictly-Style Challenge

Eighteen contestants are taking part in this year’s dance competition, Strictly Best Foot Forward.

The nervous yet excited competitors, who have been paired together to form nine couples, are learning various dances, to be performed in front of family, friends, and hospice supporters at the grand finale on Saturday 22nd March, at Swinton Masonic Hall, Pendlebury.

The novice dancers have started dance lessons at Lark Dance Drama and Gymnastics studio, in Bolton, where they are being trained by professional dance teachers over a period of ten weeks.

Led by organiser and Bury Hospice trustee, Deborah Lisle, the popular fundraiser raises huge amounts of funds in aid of the hospice each year.

Among the fundraising contestants is Lesley Joos, a Bury based bra fitter, who began ballroom and Latin sequence dancing, following the death of her partner, John.

Dancing helped Lesley to get out of the house after losing John, keeping her busy, and giving her a social interest.

She said: “I realised how devastating it would be if John and I needed the help of Bury Hospice, but couldn’t access the care.”

“I realised how important it is to fundraise and keep the hospice going, because it is so precious to so many people.”

Lesley added: “I’ve just started dancing, but it gives me so much joy. There isn’t a better way for me to utilise this passion and do my little bit towards fundraising.”

“Hospice’s not only care for the person who’s coming towards the end-of-life, but the whole family; it’s hugely important they are there for us, all the time.”

The 2025 competitors are calling on their communities to pledge donations in support of Bury Hospice and all of the local families who rely on its vital services.

The competitors are:

Rossella Richardson and John Bugeja
Trisha Rushton and Rob Ferguson
Lesley Joos and Louis Bancroft
Catherine Barnes and Adam Lewis
Cathy Peel and Leon Byron
Gemma Foulkes and Gareth Hill
Zydrune (Dru) Condon and Mason Mott-Roberts
Jackie Ferris and Mike Ferris
Yvonne Higginson and David (Kenny) Kenyon

You can support the 2025 dancers with their fundraising efforts by heading here:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/burystrictly2025