Last September, I had the absolute pleasure of joining the adult tappers from Gillies Mar-Jan Stage School to rehearse for the 4th Shine for Sally Dance Extravaganza. Every Monday evening was filled with laughter, rhythm, and plenty of tapping as we prepared for the big event, which took place at the end of November last year.
Shine for Sally is a truly special event consisting of a charitable dance show in memory of a beautiful young lady, Sally, who sadly passed away from Ewing Sarcoma at just 14 years old. Sally was treated on Ward 84 at The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where she received her Milly Bag, which she loved, and Milly’s Smiles became her favourite charity.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to come to know Sally’s beautiful family, and I feel incredibly privileged to call them my friends. It’s strange, but I truly believe that in some way, our beautiful girls have brought us together.
The event itself was spectacular, with talented dancers and singers lighting up the stage and entertaining audiences across two fantastic performances.
Through all the hard work, passion, and love poured into the event, a remarkable £6,000 was raised! This incredible amount has been split between Milly’s Smiles and Derian House.
Last week, I had the honour of being presented with a cheque from all the wonderful dancers. A huge thank you to Sally’s amazing family for supporting us, for allowing me to be a small part of such a beautiful event, and for raising such a phenomenal amount of money for us. I just know that Sally will be so proud of her mum, her dad, and her gorgeous big sister.
