Staff at United Utilities in Great Sankey in charity event (From This Is Cheshire)

Staff at United Utilities in Great Sankey in charity event

11:59am Monday 22nd March 2010 in

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TWO water company workers are swapping hi-vis jackets for sequinned dresses to raise cash for terminally ill children.

Kath Ayres, aged 28, and Clare Bullen, aged 26, are taking on fellow staff in a ‘Strictly Come Dancing’-style fundraiser for Claire House Children’s Hospice.

The colleagues, who work for United Utilities, live together in Bewsey and have spent the last few weeks waltzing round the living room as they prepare for the big night.

They first got involved with the event after Clare saw an advert in work and convinced her flatmate to audition too.

She said: “I’ve always loved dancing, and studied ballet when I was younger, so when I saw the advert I realised it was a way to get back into it.”

The pair are being taught by top international ballroom dancers, and will be competing against each other and six co-workers.

Around 30 women and 15 men auditioned for the competition, with four of each sex making the cut.

Each contestant is doing a different dance, with Kath doing the jive and Clare taking on the waltz.

Kath, who hasn’t danced since she was five, said each lesson is being filmed for her proud parents back in Swansea.

She said: “It’s a great way to keep fit, and I’m really enjoying it.

“I’ve even joined a social jive class and will definitely carry on when this is over.”

Organisers of the sold out event are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the hospice, which cares for children across Cheshire and Merseyside who have life-threatening conditions.

Laura Breen, Area Fundraiser for Claire House, thanked the water company for putting on the event.

She said: “The money raised will help us to continue to provide care and comfort to seriously ill children and their families.

“Everyone has been training extremely hard and the big night promises to be a spectacular occasion.”

The competition will be held at Southport’s Floral Hall on April 23.