Swinging with the Stars aims to raise $500K for hospice

The 14th annual Swinging with the Stars fundraiser takes place at Kelowna’s Delta Grand Hotel later this month to raise money for the Central Okanagan Hospice Association.

Hospice association executive director Natasha Girard says they are experiencing "unprecedented" demand for their services right now.

"We are 45 per cent over last year in our grief and bereavement services and 40 per cent over last year in our palliative care services, so I can’t emphasize enough the need in our community and the importance of this upcoming gala fundraiser."

The event itself has several ways of raising money, but all seven teams competing have come up with their own ways to help reach a fundraising goal of $500,000.

“We do a lot of work together and have a lot of fun, and thought this would be a great opportunity to support a local charity and just to have some fun together and learn something new because I am not a dancer," said Dustyn Baulkman of team Sassy Unicorns.

“Our [personal] goal was $10,000 and we’re just waiting on the update, but we know we’re getting really close. But our last little bit of fundraising right now is our 50/50 draw we’ve got going on. So people interested can go to the COHA office and purchase tickets there… If we completely sell out, they can win up to $8,900.”

With the 500-seat show completely sold out, the Central Okanagan Hospice Association tells Castanet they had to come up with an alternative way to raise more money.

“It’s not too late to get involved. We have an online auction that we’ve got going on until the end of the month," said Girard, adding that a live stream of the show will also be sold for $25.

Dancing with the Stars takes place at the Delta Grand Hotel on February 25, starting with a roll out of the red carpet at 5 p.m.