A North Belfast mum of four and a group of her amazing friends are putting on their dancing shoes in support of her fight against cancer.
Kasia McKinney was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36 in October 2019 when her son Charlie was just five-months-old. A few short months later she started chemotherapy followed by intense radiotherapy and hormone treatment.
But determined Kasia and her husband John decided they wanted to help those who had helped them.
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So they began fundraising for Cancer Fund For Children who were a lifeline to their four children throughout Kasia’s treatment.
Now the Kinneys and a group of supporters are hosting Team McKinney and Friends Do Strictly. This Saturday the team will be putting on their ballroom shoes to wow a crowd of more than 300 in the Hilton Hotel, Templepatrick.
Kasia and John reached out to friends in February 2023 in hopes of putting on a Strictly Come Dancing showcase with the aim of raising £50,000.
Their call was answered with 20 dancers and a few friends behinds the scenes helping to put on the show – with both Kasia and John also taking part as dancers.
Kasia said: "We originally wanted to run this fundraiser in 2020 but then Covid meant that we had to postpone so this event is three years in the making.
"Over the last three months our team has been practicing non-stop to perfect our dances all while planning our different fundraising activities in advance of our big night. I can’t thank our dancers enough for the commitment and passion that they have brought to fundraising for the amazing Cancer Fund for Children.
"The support of our family, friends, community and local businesses who have sponsored our dancers or took part in our fundraising efforts have been second to none. We had a dream of raising £50,000 and we have absolutely smashed that goal. We are so proud.
"Cancer Fund For Children holds a special place in my family’s hearts. The support that they provided for my children at Daisy Lodge was phenomenal. And it made us determined to give back and help other families who are going through their own cancer journeys."
The 10 couples have secured multiple business sponsorships, donations through their individual Just Giving pages and held a series of fundraising events with the help of Abbeycentre, Wild World Parties, Fortwilliam Golf Club and Henderson’s Glenwell Spar as part of their fundraising efforts.
To date, the team have raised an amazing £73,000 – and they’re not finished yet.
Saturday night will see the 10 couples strutting their stuff on the dancefloor in the Hilton, Templepatrick in hopes of being crowned champions. But the real winners are Cancer Fund For Children to whom the fundraising will be donated.
There is still time to reach out and sponsor the team through their JustGiving page: bit.ly/3MANci6 or by giving them a follow on Facebook at Team McKinney and Friends Do Strictly.
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