The Friends of Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre had its wish granted when it was chosen to be the recipient of the money that will be raised at the 2019 Celebrity Dance Off on Saturday.
The gala event pairs professional dancers with celebrities from the community and will take place at Cambridge Red Deer Hotel & Conference Centre (formerly the Sheraton Red Deer).
Last year, the annual dance competition raised about $420,000 for the Canada Games Celebration Plaza.
Friends executive director Richelle Belzerowski said it was the third year her non-profit group applied to be a dance off recipient. So far, it’s been a difficult year to fundraise, as it likely has been for all charities, she said.
“We are so grateful that our organization was picked by the Celebrity Dance Off committee. This was such a blessing for our organization,” Belzerowski said.
In the past six years, the event has raised more than $2.5 million to support central Alberta charities.
Friends of Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre focuses on patient comfort and care by funding personal care items and equipment such as blanket warmers, walkers, wheelchairs, toiletries, stuffed animals, vital signs monitors, portable blood pressure monitors, waiting room furniture and more.
“The list goes on and on. Everybody who steps into the hospital is impacted by us one way or another.”
Friends of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre also manages the emergency response system Red Deer Lifeline.
The hospital organization raises money by operating Café VA, Present Trends Gift and Flower Shop, and Jolt N Bolt at the hospital. Volunteers run bingos, and sell pull tickets at Parkland Mall, the hospital and casinos.
An annual garage sale and other special events are also held during the year to help raise between $350,000 and $500,000 annually, Belzerowski said.
Saturday’s celebrity dancers are Isaac Day, April Ferguson, Rhonda Hamill, Ken Johnston, Vinnie Lee, Vanessa Higgins-Noriega, Trevor Sopracolle and Alex Wood.
For more information, visit www.celebritydanceoff.ca.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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