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This year’s ABN AMRO Dancefloor Challenge raised £9,000, which will be split between domestic abuse charity, Safer, and the Guernsey Amateur Dancesport Association.
The annual event, which sees local celebrities selected to dance with some of Guernsey’s best ballroom dancers, involved 14 couples who entertained more than 1,000 people over three shows. BBC Guernsey broadcast assistant Sydney Henley-Roussel and her dance partner Dave Hyett were crowned overall winner of this year’s ABN AMRO Dancefloor Challenge.
Organiser Jamie Le Tissier said this year’s total meant £120,000 has been raised since the Dancefloor Challenge started 11 years ago.
‘The event gets better and better each year. The amateur dancers, who often have never taken to the floor before, put their heart and souls into learning so that they can entertain the audience and help raise money for charity,’ he said.
‘The money raised is invaluable for the Guernsey Amateur Dancesport Association as we are not-for-profit and will use this to further the sport in the island. I want to thank all of the dancers for their dedication and ABN AMRO for their continued support.’
Chair of Safer Maggie Costen said the money would enable the charity to continue its work in the island and buy some much-needed equipment for the Women’s Refuge as both the television and a fridge freezer needed to be replaced.
‘In 2016, 48% of Safer's funding was from the States of Guernsey and so we rely on fundraising events such as the ABN AMRO Dancefloor Challenge to be able to provide wide ranging and essential services,’ she said.
‘We are incredibly grateful to ABN AMRO, Jamie and his team at LeT’s Dance, GADA and all of the dancers as they gave so much and worked so hard to create such an amazing event which helped Safer raise the profile of the work it does and provide more support to victims of domestic abuse and their children. Safer was also very proud of our committee member Elis Bebb who took part in the event and came third on the Saturday afternoon.’
Graham Thoume, managing director of sponsors ABN AMRO, said it was fantastic that the event had raised so much money. As sponsor, it chooses which local charity should be joint beneficiary alongside the Guernsey Amateur Dancesport Association.
‘It takes hours and hours of work to put on an event like the ABN AMRO Dancefloor Challenge and we are delighted to play a part in making it happen. We know the money raised from this year’s event will make an enormous difference to both the Guernsey Amateur Dancesport Association and to Safer. Such is the success of the event that ABN AMRO has already committed to sponsoring it again in 2018.’
Mr Le Tissier is already planning for the ABN AMRO Dancefloor Challenge 2018 and anyone wishing to be considered can email him on jamie.letissier@cwgsy.net
