St Elizabeth Hospice does Strictly Come Dancing

Hospice patients are picking up their scoring paddles as carers take to the stage in a Strictly-style dance competition.

Each day this week a different dance school has been at St Elizabeth Hospice day centre in Ipswich to teach a one-hour class on the basics of Cha Cha, Jive, Charleston, Waltz and Salsa.

At the end of each session, four pairs of staff and volunteers performed for the patients who then scored them out of 10 – just as the judges do on Strictly Come Dancing.

Tomorrow, five finalist couples will compete for the trophy.

Kathryn Barber, day care sister at St Elizabeth Hospice, thanked The Lait School, Cowling Dance Academy, Ipswich School of Dance and DanceVibe for taking part.

She added: “We work hard to make sure that people who are living with a progressive illness are enabled to live their life to the full.

“Sometimes that is through therapy input and help from our doctors and nurses, but it is also about creating special memories and moments.

“The ‘hospice does Strictly’ week has brought staff, volunteers and patients together to create a wonderful event for our patients and a real sense of community.”