GOING out for a boogie on a Saturday night isn’t anything unusual.
But try doing it for six hours straight in six different styles while raising money for charity.
That’s what hundreds of people did at The Rowans Hospice’s first annual Dance-a-thon on Saturday.
From 6pm until midnight dancers tried out six different styles to raise cash for the Purbrook-based hospice.
Amanda Mahoney, from the hospice, said: ‘It was fantastic and everyone had a really good time.
‘There was a brilliant atmosphere and there was so much energy in the room.
‘It exceeded expectations.
‘We wanted to do some sort of mass participation event and something a bit different so we thought of the Dance-a-thon.
‘I took part as well and it was such good fun.’
The six dances were salsa, disco, broadway, line dancing, belly dancing and an energetic zumba to finish the night off.
Some people took part on their own while others performed in teams and tagged each other in and out in a relay.
The event took place at Portsmouth Guildhall.
Each section was led by a professional dancer who guided the fundraisers through the right steps.
Organisers estimate they have raised about £20,000 from the night.
It comes after the hospice announced it wants to make its Dorothy’s Dream appeal a permanent service.
The scheme gives terminally ill people the chance to spend their last days at home.
The hospice is currently £100,000 short of its £1m target to run the scheme until June. After that it must raise £500,000 each year to keep it going.
Amanda added: ‘I just want to say thank you to everyone who took part and also to everyone who sponsored one of the dancers.
‘Everyone is already planning what they’re doing to do for next year’s Dance-a-thon.’
It costs more than £4m a year to run the hospice.
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