Dancing fundraiser aims to reach million-dollar milestone

THE Ballarat Foundation’s Dancing with our Stars initiative is set to return this July with the aim of reaching a one-million-dollar milestone.

Ten community members will take to the dance floor with a rehearsed routine on Saturday 5 July to compete for a mirror ball trophy, and if the competition raises more than $200,000, Dancing with our Stars will have raised more than one million dollars since it began.

The money goes towards programs in the Ballarat community that aim to break the cycle of disadvantage such as back to school vouchers and the L2P program.

“All the money raised through Dancing with our Stars stays right here in Ballarat and I think that’s the really crucial part of this,” Ballarat Foundation CEO Andrew Eales said.

“We’re a very small organisation at the Ballarat Foundation but we’ve got big ambitions to make positive change in Ballarat, and we can only do that with the support of the community.”

 

This year’s stars include Gemma Snibson from St Frances Xavier PS, Eclipse Ford’s Mandy Woods, Buxton real estate agent Tayla Chalmers, Jodie Perry from Hand in Hand Ballarat and Sovereign Radiology’s Nic O’Brien.

Ballarat Turf Club’s Peter Downs, community supporters Kalyan Velagala and Anthony Ingerson, and Horace Tang from Ballarat Veterinary Practice will also take to the dance floor.

One more star will be announced in coming weeks.

The competition is supported by Shelley Ross and The Dance Studio Ballarat.

“What better way to give back to the community than to just have fun,” she said.

“It’s great to see that transition that [the stars] go from terrified to really having a great time.

“We have lots of laughs and it’s not meant to be serious even though there’s a serious outcome.”

To donate, visit the Ballarat Foundation website.