Mitre 10 Dancing for Hospice

Mitre 10 Dancing for Hospice 2025: A Night of Elegance and Generosity

By Alison Hollard

On Saturday, March 1, Whanganui hosted a truly spectacular charity fundraising gala, the Mitre 10 Dancing for Hospice event.

This black-tie affair brought together 420 attendees at the beautifully transformed war memorial hall, all to support Hospice Whanganui. Over the past five months, 20 dedicated locals underwent rigorous training with Irina and Ginny from Dance Whanganui, mastering their ballroom and Latin dance skills to showcase their talents on this exciting night.

The atmosphere was electric as participants took to the floor, showcasing their hard work and passion.

Glen Osborne MC really entertained the crowd and added the jubilant mood of the evening. Glen had been on a similar journey to the dancers with Dancing with the Stars, so Hospice were fortunate that he kindly stepped up to wow our crowd.

Our talented Judges were: Mike Whitson, Kiel du Buisson and Raine Symons, who travelled from New Plymouth or Palmerston North to give our couples feedback on their spectacular performances.

The overall winners, Libby Sampey and Hayden Nottingham, amazed the crowd and judges with their energetic jive, while the People’s Choice award went to Cath Cranstone and Wade Vivian for their captivating Argentine tango.

Thanks to the meticulous efforts of Anna O’Leary and Maryanne Martin, the venue radiated elegance, with stunning décor that enhanced the evening’s festivities. Also, a huge thanks to Lyn and Peter Crawford for leading the catering team, as well as the Summerset in the River City team (Shelley Walls and team) , Honest Kitchen (Karen Sewell and team), Joe and Heather Power and Steve Barton (chef who has travelled from Auckland to assist). Collegiate students assisted with serving the meals to all guests and did a fabulous job. In addition to this external support, there was also significant work put in for the staging of the event from the wider Hospice team, Davene (our former CEO), Gaylene, Stefan, Melanie, Fiona, Mikisu, and Esther.

All hair and makeup was kindly sponsored by Justine Nixon-Gaisford, Kathy Forlong, and Cherie Alderton, and spray tans and make up sponsored by Blushes beauty therapy salon, led by Sarah, Anna and Mel.

Sophie Toyne took the stage at half time to delight the crowd with her powerful vocal chords, followed by a Live Auction that raised $23,000. We are grateful to all of those sponsors that contribute towards the live and silent auctions.

With generous support from sponsors, including principal sponsor Mitre 10 Mega and gold sponsors Craig’s Investments, Orthodocs, Display Associates, Dance and Pilates Whanganui, Emmetts, and the Robert Bartley foundation, the event raised $170,000 for Hospice Whanganui, which will make a significant impact for our community.

This remarkable event not only entertained but also exemplified the spirit of giving, proving once again that together, we can make a difference.