Personal contact with cancer, and knowing people who have suffered from the disease, are the main reasons why a group of Orange people have signed up for this year's Stars of Orange Dance for Cancer event.
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The 11 teams of people, most of whom say they have no dancing experience, were revealed at an invitation-only launch party on Friday night.
One of the teams is a group of registered nurses who work in the Cardiac Cath Lab at the Orange Health Service in the cardiology department.
Kerry Porter, Kath McMaster, Kate Toynton, Lyndal Taylor, Rebecca Powyer, Sandi McAtamney, El Moore and Jess Smith said in their entry form they not only saw health problems in their work they also had a colleague who was affected by cancer.
"Our dear friend battles with this every day," they said.
It's a great cause obviously, but it will be challenging and fun doing the fundraising.
- Andrew Moxon, Stars of Orange entrant
"It is constant and I don't think it is true to say that you every 'overcome' this disease. It walks with you every day. It hangs over your head day in, day out. As a team we would like to support our dear friend.
"Individually we have also all had family members or close friends affected by cancer, some losing their battle and some still battling. This opportunity to, in some small way, raise money and raise awareness for the Cancer Council seems the least we can do."
They said they would be fundraising through hair dying, cake stalls, a trivia night and raffles.
Another entrant, Wayne McDonnell, said he wanted to use the event to raise awareness of cancer for men.
"I want to encourage other men to get checked for early diagnosis," he said.
Mr McDonell said his fundraising would include canvassing local businesses.
Andrew Moxon said he would be joining daughter Annabelle in the event.
"It's a great cause obviously, but it will be challenging and fun doing the fundraising," he said on his entry form.
"Both sides of my family lost grandfathers to cancer, and my wife's aunty is now battling breast cancer."
He said his fundraising would include morning teas at work, raffles and trivia nights.
The other contestants for 2020 are Billie Rae White, Erin Quarmby, Jack and Gia, Keryn Phillips, Matt Boss and Glen Maxwell, Men of Orange, Nickala and Nikki and Tom Corrigan.
Five Orange dance schools will aim to show the contestants how to make great moves on the dance floor in time for the event's gala presentation night at the Orange Function Centre on Saturday June 6.
Last year's teams raised more than $250,000 for the Cancer Council.
Steph's Sass Squad won both the people's choice and highest fundraiser contests.
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
