Rowans Does Strictly Hub

Contestants

Here are our Strictly stars 2020!

• Sarah Astin
  Having suffered a stroke last year, fortunately with minimal lasting damage, I am continuing to live my life to the fullest. I have  been a Strictly fan for years, wishing it was me on that dance floor. I am so happy that my wish has been granted.
• Graham Chappell & Sam Brewster
  We can’t think of anything better to be a part of than ‘Rowans does Strictly’! Learning a life long skill whilst raising money for the fantastic Rowans Hospice. Being massive fans of the Strictly Come Dancing show, we are looking forward to challenging ourselves just like the celebrities do.
• Natalie and Adam Bundle
  The unexpected passing of my nan last April made us realise life is too short and you should grab every opportunity! Being selected for ‘Rowans does Strictly’ is a dream come true, after years of watching and wanting to be on the programme. It is the perfect start to 2020.
• Malcolm Chewter
  As a lover of all things sparkly this is a great opportunity to learn to dance, sparkle and support a good cause! As the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth when Rowans officially opened, I totally appreciate the work that the charity does to support our local community.
• Sarah and David Cowan
  We love ‘Strictly’ and all the different dances! To have the chance to take on this challenge and be able to actually learn to dance is going to be amazing. Plus it will also be massive surprise to our family! They will be 100% behind us as my mum was nursed by the Rowans in 1997.
• Anna Craig
  I simply love dancing. Taking part in Rowans does Strictly is a way of doing what I enjoy, whilst raising money for a great local charity.
• Zena Dawson
  I’m a Dementia Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Hospice. I am thrilled to be taking part as I want to raise money for our amazing Hospice and raise awareness of how we support people with Dementia, whilst fulfilling a lifelong dream to learn ballroom. I’ve never persuaded someone to partner with me, but now I can’t wait to get dancing!
• Stacey Eastwood
  I am part of the nursing team at the hospice, I love to dance on a night out. I dance once a week swing and jive so am looking forward to this new challenge. Especially as I want to raise as much money as I can to support the redevelopment of the Hospice, so Rowans can continue to provide outstanding care for our community.
• Naomi Edgson
  Great I am taking part as it will help me raise money for a charity which is close to my heart. My Mum was cared for by Rowans before she sadly passed away with Motor Nueron Disease. The care she received and the support Rowans gave us as her family was incredible.
• Sarah Finch
  I am ecstatic to be taking part. As a ‘Strictly’ fan for 17 years I so want to be able to master a salsa, tango or Viennese Waltz. I am really hoping to be taught to do a fleckle or heel turn! To finally be having my strictly moment, whilst helping to raise funds for such an important local Charity is amazing!
• Peter Gammon and Heather Barrett
  Heather and I love the show. Heather used to do ‘Mo Jive’ quite a bit around 10 years ago and I have been known to ‘Dad Dance’ occasionally! We’re looking forward to taking part, as it will be a really fun thing to be involved in and will raise vital funds for Rowans. A charity I am so thankful to after the support the ‘Hospice at Home’ team gave to my mum in her last few days.
• Pamela George
  Five years ago I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease which prevented me from continuing with my dancing. However I’m now physically much stronger and this means I can now use my renewed strength to help others . A number of my friends and families over the years have been supported by Rowans. The support has been priceless and outstanding.
• Wayne Jeffery & Rianne Rose
  It is so fitting to be part of ‘Rowans does Strictly’. My mum, and all of us, were supported by Rowans before and after she passed away in 2011. Mum loved ‘Strictly’ and she loved Rowans, so this is the perfect fundraising event to be part of.
  
• Karen King
  I loved dancing since I was a young girl and being part of Rowans does Strictly will be so uplifting and inspirational, because we are all dancing to raise money to support the fantastic service Rowans provides. A service I feel passionate about, as my Dad has been using the Living Well Centre since last May and he just loves it there.
• Faye O’Grady
  As cancer survivor having gone through a 13 year battle, I can’t wait to revisit some of the ballroom dances I used to do as a child. It is great to do this whilst raising money for local charity, as friends that have been involved with the Rowans only ever say amazing things about what the Hospice does.
• Anna Paterson
  Being a part of ‘Rowans does Strictly’ is a dream come true. I used to do Ballroom and Latin but not having a regular dance partner made it difficult to progress. So this experience will be totally fabulous.
• Linda Pugh
  Taking part in ‘Rowans does Strictly’ is such a fabulous way to support such an amazing charity. Five years ago Rowans Hospice at Home were there to support my husband. I cannot underestimate the fabulous care that Rowans gave my husband, myself and our family.
• Jill Ricketts and Roger Pearce
  We can’t wait to take on this fundraising dance challenge. Fingers crossed my recent lessons in Ceroc may help! My story is the reason I wanted to take part, and am so grateful to be doing so. The care they gave my beautiful Sarah in her final days was second to none, as I say always, Rowans is where Angels work.
• Christine Salero and Kevin Sadler
  We are always the first ones up on the dance floor at any party! And absolutely love watching ‘Strictly’ so cannot wait to start our “Rowans does Strictly” journey. We are hoping my few lessons of Modern Jive many years ago will help us!
• Hannah and Ryan Seager
  Rowans were a HUGE support in my life when my Mum’s cancer became terminal and I can’t thank them all enough. I was supported by the Meerkats team which helped me to ‘keep dancing’, so by raising money I want to make sure others can get received the same support we received. We can’t wait to find out if we have the hips for Samba!
• Kevin Smith
  I’m a big Strictly fan and I’m even off to the arena tour next year.  As a two left-footed dad dancer who’s never danced before, I am ecstatic to have been chosen to take part in Rowans does Strictly.
• Ray Southam
  I get the Strictly bug every year and have always wanted to do something like it. I turned 40 in 2019 and am making it a year of doing different things, so it’s brilliant I have been selected – I can’t wait to find out if I can dance. And what is more, I have just I received a marriage proposal and said YES, so potentially I could also be training for my first dance!
• Melissa Tolson
  If you can call attempting to copy dance moves from music videos experience… then I think I have a little bit. Most importantly I just have a love of dance, so I am totally looking forward to the experience of taking part in Rowans does Strictly! I never had the confidence to attend a class on my own  so it is going to be amazing to get some professional help!
• Samantha White
  I am a huge Strictly fan, I watch every year, including the specials! I have always wanted to see how hard it actually is to learn the dances. I also can’t wait to raise money for Rowans, doing something a bit different, as Rowans really helped my family before and after we lost my Grandfather.