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Big Brothers, Big Sisters to benefit from dance contest

A new local charity is set to benefit from the 2014 version of the Celebrity Dance Off in Red Deer.
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A new local charity is set to benefit from the 2014 version of the Celebrity Dance Off in Red Deer.

The committee organizing the annual event has announced that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Red Deer and District will benefit from next year’s night of dancing.

Over the past two years, the Red Deer Hospice Society has been the benefactor, receiving $475,000 from the glitzy gala events.

Organizing committee chairperson Christine Moore said her group received 27 applications from charities in the community hoping the event’s funds raised could go to them.

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mission to renovate Camp Alexo west of Rocky Mountain House was chosen.

The fundraising goal is $250,000 for the event, which is take place on April 4 at the Sheraton Hotel.

Moore said the money raised will not be the event’s only benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“More importantly we’re going to raise awareness and we’re going to raise their profile. There are lots of kids who need those role models in their lives,” said Moore.

Celebrity dancers for the 2014 event will be Dr. J.S. Badenhost, Katherine Meadows, Donna Purcell, Garrett Scott, BJ Tumanut, Ann Waschuk and Sam Wong. An eighth “mystery man” dancer will be announced soon.

The celebrity dancers will be paired with dance instructors from Red Deer and Calgary for the event.

“The class of 2014 is going to blow people away,” said Moore.

The hospice society bowed out of continued involvement with the fundraiser earlier this year because the event had grown too big for the small non-profit that wished to focus its fundraising efforts elsewhere.

Tickets will go on sale on Jan. 27.