WHAT started out as friendly dance lessons has grown into a fundraising group for a prostate cancer nursing scholarship.
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Albury dance instructor Bev Grunow raised $1435 for a prostate cancer support group in 12 weeks by organising ball room dancing lessons and charging $5 per person.
“I’ve been into all this volunteer work since I was eight or nine years old,” she said.
“I grew up in a family that always gave back to the community in one way or another, so it doesn’t seem like I’ve done anything out of the normal.”
The lessons started in September with 16 to 20 people showing up.
About three months later and there is a regular turn-out of more than 40 dancers.
“Friends of mine wanted to learn to dance and they had been going to other little dance classes and they couldn’t learn properly because they were beginners and they needed walk-throughs,” Ms Grunow said.
I grew up in a family that always gave back to the community in one way or another, so it doesn’t seem like I’ve done anything out of the normal.
- Bev Grunow
“They kept asking me to please start up a dance group and show us bit by by how to dance.”
The money raised by Ms Grunow was donated to the Albury Wodonga Prostate Cancer Support Group which funds an annual scholarship for specialist prostate cancer training for nurses.
Treasurer Andrew Randall said he was blown away by Ms Grunow’s efforts.
“Members of our support group attend the lessons and they were telling us about it however they never mentioned the fundraising that was going on so we were very pleasantly surprised,” he said.
“We are always looking for fund because once we start this scholarship, it’s going to be ongoing.”
“It’s amazing the difference that these nurses can make to a man being treated for prostate cancer.
“It’s a benefit not only to the patient but to his family as well.”
Mr Randall said the scholarship would pay $3500 tuition fees for the nurses and would provide invaluable, expert support to men with prostate cancer.
“It’s a lot of money for anyone to find but if we can take care of the financial side of it, it’s a win win situation for the patients and for the hospital staff," he said.
“The specialised knowledge of what the patient is going through and what the side effects can be is so valuable,” he said.
Lessons resume Tuesday, January 19, from 1pm to 3.30pm at St Peter’s Lutheran Church, 367 Urana Road, Lavington. Entry fee is $5, afternoon tea provided after lesson – all levels of dancers welcome to attend.