In October last year, Daniel Sandford's world was turned upside down when his wife Steph lost her battle with brain cancer.
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Throughout an arduous 17-month fight with the aggressive grade IV Diffuse Midline Glioma tumour, the Sandfords worked to maintain a level of normality in their life.
And, for the popular teacher affectionately known as Miss Steph, that world invariably revolved around dance.
Now, Mr Sandford firmly believes nearly four months after his wife's death "out of tragedy good things can happen".
And he knows for himself and his family those positives in life will continue to revolve around dance.
Last Friday night, Dance Fuse was launched in honour of the late Mrs Sandford, the not-for-profit charity designed to fulfill her dream to inspire and influence the community's school aged children.
Mr Sandford said all profits raised will be invested into a mixture of local, regional and international foundations that share her desire to change lives and support those who need it the most.
"We really wanted to honour her memory by continuing the things she was most passionate about," Mr Sandford said.
"In her last couple of months Steph was keen to sponsor and help other people in the same situation as we were, and this charity will continue to do that."
Mr Sandford said launching the charity will help enable children to dance in school.
"I think she would be proud to see it continuing and see the smiles still on kids' faces," he added.
"Dance brings people together and it also brings out their best side, which we've all got. I think she would be ecstatic to see this."
Around 120 people attended the charity's launch at Zona last week.
Mr Sandford is on the charity's committee, as are Steph's sister Justine Tranfaglia and father Sandro Tranfaglia, while United Dance Project teacher Leesa Chasling and her husband Aaron are also part of the board.
I think she would be proud to see it continuing and see the smiles still on kids' faces.
- Dan Sandford on the launch of Dance Fuse
Dance Fuse will run at schools across Orange, and surrounding towns, and fits into the Board of Studies PDHPE and creative arts syllabus. Dance teachers Bella Fisher and Dimity Bartlett will run the program.
The charity will support the likes of the Mark Hughes Foundation, Anglican Aid, Care2cure, Destiny Rescue and Compassion charities.
More information about the charity, and how to support it, can be found at www.dancefuse.org.au
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