Strictly Saint Francis 2026 Raises £52,000 for Hospice Care

A remarkable 850 supporters gathered for Saint Francis Hospice's Strictly Saint Francis 2026, creating an unforgettable evening packed with dazzling performances, incredible fundraising and a powerful celebration of community spirit. The event raised an outstanding £45,000 to support local people and families receiving hospice care.

Held at the Brentwood Centre on Friday 23 October, the much-loved fundraising spectacular saw eight courageous contestants take to the dance floor after months of training, stepping far outside their comfort zones to raise money for Saint Francis Hospice while entertaining a captivated audience.

The evening opened in spectacular fashion with a specially choreographed dance routine performed by colleagues from across Saint Francis Hospice, earning huge applause from the audience. Last year's Strictly Saint Francis contestants also returned to the dance floor, highlighting the lasting impact the event has had on those who have taken part.

Throughout the evening, contestants Carol, Anna, Mandy, Heather, Julie, Mercedes, Ryan and Skip delivered inspiring performances filled with passion, determination and personality. While balancing busy jobs, family commitments and volunteering responsibilities, they dedicated months to learning new dance routines, attending rehearsals and raising vital funds for Saint Francis Hospice.

Adding even more sparkle to the evening were two dazzling performers wearing glitterball headpieces, who quickly became crowd favourites. As well as bringing a fun and quirky touch to the celebrations, they spent the intervals posing for photographs with delighted audience members and adding an extra dose of glamour to the night.

Charlotte Winder, Event and Community Manager at Saint Francis Hospice, said:

"To see Strictly Saint Francis return for a second year and receive such incredible support from our community has been truly heartwarming. The event has grown into so much more than a fundraising evening. It is a celebration of the extraordinary kindness, generosity and determination of the people who support Saint Francis Hospice.

"Watching Carol, Anna, Mandy, Heather, Julie, Mercedes, Ryan and Skip step onto that dance floor and give their all was truly inspiring. Every contestant brought something unique to the evening and showed remarkable courage, commitment and determination throughout their Strictly journey.

"It was wonderful to see colleagues from across the hospice open the show and to welcome back last year's dancers. Those moments perfectly captured the spirit of Strictly Saint Francis and the special sense of community that makes this event so unique.

"I am immensely grateful to our professional dance partners, colleagues and volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the evening such a success.

"Most importantly, thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, donated, cheered from the audience and showed their support. The love in the room for Saint Francis Hospice was overwhelming. The atmosphere was phenomenal, and it was incredibly special to see so many people come together to enjoy a fabulous night of entertainment while helping us continue providing care and support to local people and families when they need us most."

After a night of outstanding performances, volunteer and dedicated supporter Skip Atkins and his professional dance partner Jolita were awarded the Judges' Choice Award, impressing the panel with their talent, commitment and performance.

The coveted Strictly Saint Francis Glitter Ball Trophy was awarded to Mercedes Casado, Retail Online Trading Manager at Saint Francis Hospice, and her professional dance partner Frankie, after they captured the hearts of audiences and judges alike with their sensational routine.

The evening featured several exciting additions for its second year. Returning judge Sam Jeffery delighted the audience by taking to the dance floor alongside his wife and fellow dance professional Zoe Jeffery for a spectacular performance during the show.

The audience was also treated to a stunning Cuban salsa performance from professional dancers Richard Marcel and his partner Angelica, whose energy, skill and charisma brought yet another memorable moment to an evening packed with entertainment.

Returning to the judging panel alongside Sam were Rita Sinclair, winner of a BBC Make a Difference Award this year, and Ryan Curtis, host of Saint Francis Hospice's new podcast, The Hospice Heart, and Grazina Berry, CEO of Saint Francis Hospice.

Saint Francis Hospice's very own Andy Furneaux once again brought his trademark warmth, humour and energy to the evening. A well-known and much-loved figure both within the hospice and across the local community, Andy kept the audience engaged and entertained throughout the spectacular show.

A special thank you goes to our sponsors, T Cribb, RM2 Flooring, TP Fire & Security and Floyd & Son, for their valued support in helping make the evening such a success.