"Swinging with the Stars" participants at Saturday's fundraiser. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Annual fundraiser

BUH Foundation’s “Swinging with the Stars” raises over $56K

Feb 4, 2024 | 4:14 PM

UPDATE: In the latest update, including all donations and ticket sales, the Swinging with the Stars fundraiser ended up raising $108,615 that will benefit the Battlefords Union Hospital.

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They danced the night away, to the tune of $56,254!

That was how much the participants raised in the “Swinging with the Stars” fundraiser for the Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) Foundation at the Don Ross Centre on Saturday, easily surpassing the goal of $35,000.

Seven teams, comprised of a local celebrity and a pro dancer, hit the dance floor trying to win votes and donations.

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BUH Foundation Executive Director Leanne Ducommun noted the amount raised was just in donations for the dancers. Ticket sales and the rest of the funds from the event will be tallied up in a few days.

“We are just ecstatic,” she said. “It has just blown our minds. We gave each team a goal to raise $5,000, and obviously they stepped up, and gave us such an amazing show.”

Ducommun added that “absolutely” it will be an annual event now after the success of the night that sold out within 48 hours. The event was live-streamed on BUH Foundation’s Facebook Page so people could also donate and vote from home.

“The Battlefords need this,” Ducommun said. “We are a dance community. Dance is healing. Dance brings people together. Dance makes people smile. This is what it’s all about. This is why we do what we do.”

Dressed as the characters Mario and Luigi, pro Sara-Lee Reimer joined Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie on the stage with “Team Tap Tinglers.”

“We practised two to three times a week for the last three months,” Leslie said. “Going into this, I’m not a dancer. I don’t dance. I had no [prior] training whatsoever. I got a tremendous partner in Sara. She had patience with me, and she took the time to help me learn those steps. I couldn’t ask for a better night.”

Ducommun and the event co-chair Cayla Ellis of Annette’s School of Dance, who was instrumental in helping with the project and coordinating the dance routines, handed out the awards to the winners at the end of the evening.

“The energy in this room has just been amazing,” Ducommun said. “It is just an honour to watch all of these beautiful, talented individuals share the vision of the BUH Foundation of a healthy community, healthy people, and healthcare for all. Laughing and coming together as a community is health. It’s good health. It’s why we do what we do, and we are just so grateful for it.”

Celebrity Daniel Stokalko of Gold Eagle Lodge and pro-Shannon Rask with “Team Fiery Feet” received The Most Funds Raised Award for having the most donations that came in prior to the event.

Living Sky School Division Superintendent of Learning Tonya Lehman and pro-Melissa Squire with “Team Move Makers” received the Judges’ Choice Award, while nurse practitioner Dal Lynds and pro-Delaney Cheyne with “Team Beat Breakers” picked up the Audience Choice Award in which people voted by donating close to $9,000 on Saturday evening alone.

The evening also included performances by the Svoboda Ukrainian Dancers, powwow dancer Khoniss Wuttunee, Dance Connection, Highland Dance, and Annette’s School of Dance to round out the show.

Also during the event, Trevor Watts, on behalf of Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium in North Battleford, made a special presentation and donated $5,000 for the fundraiser. Several businesses also made contributions to make the event possible.

All funds raised from the Swinging with the Stars event will help purchase a Neonatal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine for the Women’s Health and Birthing Centre (WHBC) at the BUH. The non-invasive machine helps newborns in case they are experiencing any difficulty breathing.

The cost of the unit is about $30,000. Since the funds raised came in well over that amount, all the additional funds will be allocated to the WHBC, which Ducommun said is “awesome.”

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsNOW