A STARTFORTH theatre nurse will swap his scrubs for sequins next month when he steps onto the dance floor in a “strictly” glittering charity event.
By his own admission Andrew Jefferies is not a dancer, but he will put his best foot forward when he takes part in the fundraising ball-room dance contest, Strictly Step by Step at Darlington’s Dolphin Centre on November 9.
Based on the hit television show, Strictly Come Dancing, the charity event is raising money for five north east charities – I’m George’s Mate, Andy’s Man Club, Recovery Connections and never Throw in the Towel project.
Like the show, each of the five male contestants are teamed up with a professional dancer from local dance schools.
Mr Jefferies, who works as a theatre nurse at Woodlands Hospital in Darlington, got involved with the event after commenting on a social media post.
He said: “My sister had spotted they were organising the event and I said I was up for it as long as I could do chicken wing dancing: that’s the limit of my dancing. The top half of my body waves about, ‘wings’ flapping, but my feet don’t.”
He is representing I’m George’s Mate, the mental health charity set up by George Rabbett-Smith’s parents Hilary and David after he tried to take his life last year.
He added: “I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it as they said we needed to wear proper dance shoes but I couldn’t’ find any that were big enough for me. But a few days ago, I got a message to say they had a pair of size 14.
“Each team has to do two dances during the night. I’m learning the Chachacha and I’m going to do as many training sessions as possible before the night.”
He has been teamed up with professional dancer Victoria Armstrong, who runs The Victoria Armstrong Dance School in Norton.
Mr Jefferies added: “It is not something I would normally have put myself forward for, but my son Matthew is friends with George {Rabbett].
“When he was in hospital Matthew and his mates would go up every week and sit by his bedside talking about boxing because they both are into it and now he is at Evenwood he goes over to see him there.”
Other contestants are David Beadle, who lost two children to suicide and will be taking part for Quinn’s Retreat, Adam Peterson for Recovery Connections, Wayne Percy, for Andy’s Man Club, and Simon Pickerell, for Never Throw in the Towel.
Mr Jefferies added: “I wasn’t looking forward to it at first because of the shoes but it should be good fun. I think Claire, my wife, just wants to see me on the dance floor. She has already got two tables of people coming to watch.”
The evening supported by Darlington Operatic Society will see special guests judging.
Tickets for the event cost £20 available by emailing strictlystepbystep@outlook.com.
