Meet our 2023 Strictly Dancers

Please support our amazing dancers with this challenge by donating what you can. Your donations will help motivate them to get on the dance floor, and all the money raised will help St Rocco's Hospice continue its amazing care for the Warrington community. We would like to thank you for your support.

To visit our dancers Just Giving Fundraising pages please click on their photo. 

Meet the stars of the show! 2023 Strictly St Rocco's Dancers are...

Laura Appleton

Trainee Manager, Chisholm Hunter Diamond Merchants

Why did you decide to support St Rocco’s?  

I have grown up knowing about the amazing work that St Rocco’s does for our local community. My grandma Brenda Shaw raised thousands of pounds for St Rocco’s over many years by painting pictures of old Warrington which were used in a calendar which St Rocco’s produced and sold each year. Her name and legacy of her work is greatly remarked by many people, and I feel that taking part in St Rocco’s Strictly will be my way of keeping her fundraising efforts alive as well as doing something that I am passionate about. 

What is your previous dancing experience and how are you feeling about dancing? 

From the ages of 7-19 I studied and was involved in musical theatre where my passion for performing started and grew, but life takes you in other directions. I have a basic understanding of dance, and it would be amazing to see if I can still remember some steps and how to move my hips. But it has been a while since I’ve seen centre stage and would love to learn to some new dancing skills.  

What are you hoping the experience of dancing for St Rocco’s is going to be like?

Being a strictly fan, I am hoping it is as fun and exhilarating as we see on the TV. I would really like to push myself into a new challenge and work on the areas I do not feel most confident in (dancing in front of 400 people haha). Over all I am excited to meet and work alongside the strictly team and put on a good show/night for all our family and friends as well a fundraising for such a wonderful cause.

Chris Forster

Branch Manager, Major Recruitment & Owner, Chris Forster Events

Why did you decide to support St Rocco’s?  

I have supported St Rocco's since my Aunty Allison passed away in 2013 in the hospice and I seen the unbelievable work everybody at the hospice does, also in 2017 my Grandad Ken also sadly passed away in the hospice.

What is your previous dancing experience and how are you feeling about dancing? 

I have no previous dancing experience, apart from after a fair few pints of lager....and even that isn't great. I am feeling very nervous already as this is totally out of my comfort zone and completely new to me.

What are you hoping the experience of dancing for St Rocco’s is going to be like?

 I am hoping it will be enjoyable and will be a massive achievement for me as i have never done anything like this before, whilst raising a lot of money along the way.

 

Emily Blight

Building Surveyor, Lc Building Consultants

Why did you decide to support St Rocco’s?  

I have seen firsthand the amazing services that St. Rocco’s offers. My grandma attended regularly when she was unwell with cancer and found comfort in the massages and by meeting other people in similar situations. Sadly, she passed away in 2010 but since then I know of many others who have benefitted from their services. I’ve found the guest speakers at previous events very moving which encouraged me to get involved!  

What is your previous dancing experience and how are you feeling about dancing? 

I suppose the usual partying after a few drinks at the weekend but other than that I haven’t danced since being in school. I’m excited for the challenge but I am nervous, knowing it’s for such a great cause will spur me on! 

What are you hoping the experience of dancing for St Rocco’s is going to be like?

I hope it’s going to be challenging but rewarding! I’m really excited for the night and to hear more about the people who use St Rocco’s and showing that the money is for such a good cause. 

Christine Brett Rowles

Retired CEO, Voluntary Sector

Why did you decide to support St Rocco’s?  

St Rocco’s is close to my heart as when my first husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer everyone was really supportive. I'll be honest I was sceptical at first about some of the support Alan found so beneficial. I mistakenly thought a hospice was somewhere to go to die and I just wanted a miracle to happen and someone to say it was all a mistake. Eventually, I saw with my own eyes just how much those very special people at St Rocco's make the time someone has left - the best it possibly can be. That is the priority when someone is living with a death sentence - their remaining
quality of life!!

What is your previous dancing experience and how are you feeling about dancing? 

Dancing is something we loved together. It was a hobby we started when we were beginning to think of our ‘empty nest’. It was my idea initially, but he very soon became the dancer, and I was very much the follower💃😄 I feel this would be a way I could honour his memory and also support an organisation that he admired and gained so much from.

What are you hoping the experience of dancing for St Rocco’s is going to be like?

This is the question I've found really hard. The honest answer is that I just want to make Alan proud.  I know it will be frustrating, hard work and terrifying but most of all it will be FUN.  Hopefully by listening and learning from my pro dancer I'll just do the best I can🤞

Lee Houghton

Team Leader, Cadent Gas

Why did you decide to support St Rocco’s?  

My mother was in St Rocco’s a long time ago and the support from was priceless. So, I will be doing it for her and to help raise as much money as I can for you. Also, to say thank you.

What is your previous dancing experience and how are you feeling about dancing? 

My previous experience of this type of dancing is zero. I however can bust a few moves after a few sherbets at a wedding or a party. 

What are you hoping the experience of dancing for St Rocco’s is going to be like?

I hope the experience of dancing for st Rocco’s will be great fun , a memory that I will never forget, maybe a skill learnt I will continue to do and that I raise as much money as possible for you guys and I want to make my family and friends proud, can’t wait for it..

I am nervous but also excited about the dance and really can’t wait get started.

Duncan Thorpe

Owner, Prestige Connections

Why did you decide to support St Rocco’s?  

I first heard of St Rocco’s Hospice back in 1993. My Auntie unfortunately died at the age of 34 from lung cancer. She spent her past days at St Rocco's when it was based near Orford Park. I remember the care they gave her massively helped her, my uncle and their 3 children. I also remember St Rocco’s giving excellent and compassionate end of life care to my friends mum a few years ago.

I would also love the opportunity to mince around on a dance floor like Louis Spence in fake tan and glitter too!! 😜.

What is your previous dancing experience and how are you feeling about dancing? 

The only dancing I have ever done is at raves, weddings and when my take away delivery arrives on a Saturday night so this is a massive challenge for me. I'm feeling quite confident but I know there's a lot of hard work to be done. 

What are you hoping the experience of dancing for St Rocco’s is going to be like?

I'm hoping the experience is exactly like what the previous dancer's experiences have been like. Everyone I have spoken to who has done it has absolutely loved it. I'm slightly nervous but also excited. The most important thing for me is raising as much money as I can for Rocco's. It's a great cause and I feel privileged to be a part of it.

Steph Houghton

Social Media Director, real5 Digital

Why did you decide to support St Rocco’s?  

St Rocco's has a special place in my heart. For years I have fundraised for the hospice whether that be through school, local events, basically in any way available to me, and it is always an incredible feeling being able to give back to the community and provide some comfort to those going through some of the toughest times of their lives. Knowing that I have the ability to dance in this year’s Strictly St Rocco’s is an absolute honour and privilege I won't be taking lightly.

A big part of the reason I wanted to put myself forward for this was my gorgeous Nan, who died of bowel cancer 10 years ago. She was in the process of coming to visit St Rocco’s to spend a few days a week in the facility to give my mum and aunties a bit of respite from her care. She was so excited to, in her words, "have a day out or two". She was one of the funniest people I've ever met, and I don't even think she realised it. On her tour of St Rocco's she was offered a wheelchair, and she was so offended at the thought, at the time I'd injured my knee and she quite curtly said to the orderly "I'm fine, but my granddaughter could do with the help" I've never known a stronger woman. Unfortunately, she never managed to get her "day out or two", she died at home a week or so afterwards. A big inspiration to have a go at this was that she was a big fan of musicals (it was kind of her & my grandads thing) and she would absolutely adore watching Strictly - especially musicals week.

I couldn't think of a better way to honour her, honour St Rocco’s, and raise some money than taking part in this year's St Rocco's Strictly and finally putting the musical theatre degree into some use after 10 years. 

What is your previous dancing experience and how are you feeling about dancing? 

This isn't something I've actually told the rest of the 2023 Strictly gang yet... But as mentioned above I have a Musical Theatre background, I used to do Jazz & Tap classes in my youth, from the age of 15 to 25 I was OBSESSED with Bob Fosse, and I'm not embarrassed to admit that I know my way around a step-ball-change. HOWEVER, I've never even attempted any kind of ballroom dancing before in my life... The closest I've gotten is a rendition of Cell Block Tango back in college - Does that count?

What are you hoping the experience of dancing for St Rocco’s is going to be like?

I've heard nothing but excellent things about the experience from people who've participated previously. Whatever happens will be worth it if we can raise loads of money for Roccos by prancing about on a stage for a few minutes in December. In all seriousness, I'm looking forward to getting to know the dancers, raising money, getting creative with my fundraising... AND KEEP DANCING! (sorry, couldn't resist).

Steve Park

Director of Growth, Warrington Borough Council

Why did you decide to support St Rocco’s?  

In my job at the Council, I spend most of waking hours trying to make sure Warrington is a great place to live, work and relax. St. Rocco’s is such a vitally important part of Warrington that when I was offered the chance to help it was a natural ‘Yes from me !’ St. Rocco’s has helped so many families over the years that it has quite rightly become part of the fabric of the town and what makes Warrington such a great place. However, this can only happen through the sheer hard work of fund raising and I’m proud to able to play a small part in helping St. Rocco’s continue to be such an important part of people’s lives and its place in Warrington.

What is your previous dancing experience and how are you feeling about dancing? 

I’m not ashamed to say I’m a ‘Dad Dancer’ and in my mind there’s little between me John Travolta, the reality is very different ! My emotions are racing between fear, excitement, regret and pride. I’m hoping these settle down the closer I get to the big day. As the days go by I think I’m more fearful of the spray tan than the dance !

What are you hoping the experience of dancing for St Rocco’s is going to be like?

I love a challenge and there’s no doubt this will be one the hardest things I’ll ever do. There’ll come a time when fear and nerves will need to give way to focus and enjoyment (wishful thinking!) but the words rewarding, fulfilling, reflective and pride are what I hope I’m left with when the glitter ball stops spinning.