THE ZUMBATHON held at the Urban Fitness sports hall at Bournville College in Longbridge raised £1,187.10 for the Acorns Children’s Hospice.
More than 60 people attended the two-hour session organised by Ellie Hooper from Rubery and her fellow Zumba instructors Matt Raybone and Gary Woodhall.
Ellie has done Zumba for eight years and taught it for two-and-a-half years, Matt has been an instructor for six-and-a-half years and Gary for 18 months.
All of the cash raised will go to the cause, including ticket revenue, donations and funds from raffle ticket sales.
Ellie said: “The day was a huge success and was great fun.
“The Zumba session was amazing and I have received brilliant feedback from all who attended about the session myself, Matt and Gary had practised routines and prepared for.
“I was incredibly happy to of smashed the target I set of raising £1,000.”
The trio are hoping to go and visit one of Acorns Children’s Hospices later this year to see the amazing work they do and how the money helps the youngsters there.
Ellie also thanked Urban Fitness at Bournville College for providing the hall, its raffle donation and all the help it provided on the day.
And she praised all the local businesses who contributed.
Among them were Rubery Leisure Centre, Behan Butchers, Slimming World with Paula, Frankie and Benny’s, Amy’s Florist, FarmFoods, AV Active, Mobile Beauty by Lisa, Rafters Cafe, Costa, the Empire Cinema, Cadbury World, the Hollywood Bowl, CC Balloons and Janet for the ‘name the bear’.
Ellie, Matt and Gary are hoping to do another Zumbathon very soon and raise even more money for charity.
This was the third Zumbathon Ellie had held, with the previous ones raising cash for Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer and to help fund treatment for Emma Debar who has MS.
Anyone wanting to find out more about Ellie’s Zumba sessions can call Ellie on 07952 296352.
Her sessions are held on Mondays at 7pm at Lickey End Social Club, on Wednesdays at 6.30pm at Bournville College and at 7pm on Thursdays at Beacon Church Centre, Whetty Lane, Rubery.
Matt’s take place on Mondays at 8.10pm at Haybridge Sports Centre in Hagley and at 6.30pm at Swindon Community Centre in Dudley. He also holds classes at 9.30am on Saturdays at the Swindon Community Centre. Call him on 07877 753519 for more.
