A fundraising team of staff from the community arts project, DNA Arts and Radstock Children’s Centre, are challenging themselves to organise and complete ‘Let’s Dance for SWALLOW Charity’; a twelve-hour dance-a-thon at Midsomer Norton Town Hall on Friday, 29th January.

The team will be dancing from 12 noon until midnight to raise money for local charity, SWALLOW (South West Action for Learning and Living Our Way), a growing user-led charity that supports local people with learning disabilities, enabling them to gain independence and live their lives to the full. The event is being organised as a Six-Week Challenge, alongside Somer Valley FM.

The fundraising team has worked closely with SWALLOW in the past year and wanted to help raise money for its team running this year’s Bath Half Marathon.

Amber Morrish, from DNA Arts and the Let’s Dance team, said: “SWALLOW do really positive work in the community, so we’re really excited to be raising money for them whilst setting ourselves this challenge. We’ve lined up a programme of dance and fitness classes, acoustic musicians and DJs, some from Somer Valley FM, over the twelve hours.

“It is going to be great fun and we invite you all to come down and join in. You can sponsor the event through our JustGiving page ‘LET’S DANCE for SWALLOW Charity’ or by coming to the dance-a-thon on Friday, 29th January.”

Dom Chambers, Station Manager at Somer Valley FM, said: “This is one of the most original challenges that we have ever had, which rather impressively hits all the Five Ways to Well-being. Good luck to everyone on the team. I’m feeling inspired to don my dancing pumps and nimbly step forward myself!”

Now in its third year, the Six-Week Challenge invites members of the community to set and achieve personal or group goals with the theme of the Five Ways to Well-being: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give.

The team has received local sponsorship in their fundraising: Graffix t-shirt printing, in Midsomer Norton, Midsomer Norton Town Hall and Somer Valley FM are all supporting the event with parts of the dance-a-thon being broadcast on the local community radio station, with their ‘Midday Magazine’ show airing live from the event from 12 noon – 1 p.m.

The event is free to enter, including the day’s dance classes and entertainment, however donations for the charity will be gratefully accepted. If you are a local business interested in donating to the event, please get in touch via: 07553 011723.