DANCERS are putting their best foot forward on social media, in a new dance craze to raise money for Lancashire’s children’s hospice.
Derian House Children’s Hospice, based in Chorley, asked its supporters to record themselves dancing to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 and post it on social media.
They asked people to text to donate £3 and nominate their friends to join in too – resulting in heart-warming and funny videos that have since gone viral.
“The outbreak of coronavirus has been catastrophic for our fundraising,” said Caroline Taylor, Communications Manager for Derian House.
“It costs £4.8million to run our services every year, and with 93p of every pound raised by our supporters, it’s left us with a big problem.
“Dance4Derian is a fun way of raising cash to help plug the gap and so far we’ve been blown away by the brilliant videos our supporters have made and how far the message has spread. It’s like our very own ice bucket challenge!
“We chose the song to reflect that our care isn’t just nine-to-five, but that we look after 400 seriously ill children and their families from across the North West, 365 days a year.”
Social media influencers and authors The Blossom Twins have recorded a video for their 21,000 followers on Twitter, and some of the charity’s celebrity supporters have also promised to get dancing for the good cause.
Dolly herself has even been tagged in the video on Twitter and staff at Derian House are keeping their fingers crossed she sees it and takes part.
The charity launched its Dance4Derian appeal with a heart-warming video filmed by nurses and children at the hospice, which has been viewed by nearly 30,000 people from across the world. You can view it here: https://vimeo.com/402616022
What to post and how to donate:
Simply record a video of yourself dancing to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 and post to social media with this message:
This is my #Dance4Derian.
I’ve made my donation to Derian House Children’s Hospice and nominate FRIEND’S NAMES. You have 24 hours!
Text DANCE4DERIAN to 70085 to donate £3 and help seriously ill children make the most of every moment.
Texts cost £3 plus one standard rate message.
Derian House care isn’t just 9 to 5, it’s 24/7, 365 days a year for families of seriously ill children in need.