The sold out inaugural Dancing with the Richmond Stars raised $20,000 in support of the Richmond Community Hospice Foundation.
Most funds will go towards supporting the work of Dr. Alan Nixon (a palliative care physician) at Richmond Hospital.
According to Pat Miller, executive director of the hospice, it was a fun soiree of food, wine and dance.
Miller added the highlight of the evening was definitely the dance competition.
Congratulations to our winner Laura Van Sprang, dancing the Paso Doble with her professional instructor Andy Wong, owner of the Grand Ballroom, said Miller.
It was such a fun evening and the room was so full of support, that I was proud of the evening, said Laura Van Sprang, dancer, events coordinator for the event, and funeral director and embalmer at the Richmond Funeral Home.
Sprang took home the trophy in the competition.
The dancing for me was the icing on the cake, she added.
People can still make a financial donation at www.richmondhospiceassociation.com.
The Richmond News had expected to be represented by its own Michelle Hopkins and many readers, friends and colleagues came out to support her at the event.
However, a close friend of her family died suddenly while on vacation and his celebration of life was held on Saturday in Seattle.
Hopkins expressed regret at not being able to fulfill her weeks of intense training in the hands of incredible dance instructors, George and Wendy Pytlik, but thanked everyone for their kind words of support.
