Post by Yazmin El Ashrafi

This year, I am taking part in Variety’s Strictly Ballroom competition in Leeds. Yes, really!

Variety, the Children’s Charity is an events-led organisation, supporting sick, disabled and underprivileged children across the country.

SGP has sponsored the annual Yorkshire Property Awards for a few years now as we have been moved by the work Variety do in providing much needed help to the children and young persons in desperate need in the Yorkshire region.

I’d been asked in 2018 to participate in Strictly Ballroom, but I bottled it! However, Variety angels are persistent (very persistent) and, when I met them again at YPA this year Charlotte and Annabel asked me once more. “I’m really not sure” I said. “You’d be perfect” they said. White lies of course, but they had the big fella’s ego on the hook! “You’ll be partnered with a professional dancer and given lessons!” Oh, goody… dancing lessons! You might be able to train a dog to fly an aeroplane, but that does not necessarily make it a good idea.

“All the dance instruction is properly organised by Victoria Coultas Dance” they said.  So, here I am many months later with no less a distinguished professional partner than Victoria herself!

So, for those who are entertained by the idea of seeing 6’4” and 280 lbs of uncoordinated chaos doing ‘his thing’ – a Pasodoble routine themed around Phantom of the Opera – for a good cause, you could get yourself on to the Variety website: Buy tickets for Strictly Ballroom and come along to Bowcliffe Hall near Wetherby on the evening of 9th October and have a fantastic time at my expense – well, your expense naturally!

My target is to raise £1,000 by way of sponsorship as well as selling as many tickets for the event as possible.

If you were able to contribute towards my target by way of sponsorship, it will be greatly appreciated. Geoff’s Virgin Giving Page

Thank you.