Julie and Chris Show Dance 1 Strictly Centro Dance Competition December 2009.wmv

The glitter and sparkle of Strictly Come Dancing came to the West Midlands on Tuesday (December 1, 2009) as staff from the regions transport authority, Centro, took part in their own dance off to raise money for charity.

After weeks of anticipation and lunchtime practice, Tuesdays Strictly Centro Dancing competition went down a storm, raising over £350, half of which will go towards treatment to help local girl Kaitlan Rogers walk again.

Tuesday was World AIDS day so the other half of the proceeds will go to the National AIDS Trust which helps with the education, prevention and care of people in the UK living with HIV and AIDS.

Six couples took part in the coveted competition, completing dances including the jive, salsa, samba, cha cha cha and tango with Rail Operations Manager, Toby Rackliff and Sustainable Travel Officer Helen Osborn being crowned the winners and taking home the Strictly Centro Dancing trophy.

All the dancers were trained voluntarily by Centros in house choreographer, Research & Intelligence Analyst Chris Cave during their lunch break.

Chris is a national dancing champion, winning the over-35s Latin title in Blackpools Danceworld Champions of Tomorrow competition in January this year.

Staff from across Centro bought tickets to watch their colleagues in the Strictly Centro Dancing event, with all the proceeds going towards the two charities.

Kaitlan, age ten from Northfield in Birmingham, has a very rare neurological disorder called Transverse Myelitis which left her paralysed from the neck down and affects only one in a billion people.


After significant hard work and determination Kaitlan has managed to regain movement in her hands, arms and upper body, and it is hoped that with additional treatment she may one day be able to walk again independently.

The therapy that Kaitlin needs can only be offered at one of the worlds best hospitals, the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, USA and her family is working to raise £38,000 to send her there for treatment.

Kaitlan has already been to the hospital and had a taster of the aqua therapy that could see her walk again. Kaitlans visit to the centre allowed her to complete the first steps of her life, with water supporting her body weight.

Centro staff have already raised thousands of pounds towards Kaitlans fund and it is hoped that the proceeds of Strictly Centro Dancing could help her reach her £38,000 fundraising target.

People wanting to donate money to Kaitlans fund can do so at www.justgiving.com/magsrogers1

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