{"id":327903,"date":"2025-08-08T12:52:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T12:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/327903\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T12:52:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T12:52:15","slug":"tina-and-karen-set-to-sparkle-at-strictly-ballroom-fundraiser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/327903\/","title":{"rendered":"Tina and Karen set to sparkle at Strictly Ballroom fundraiser"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Tina Dickinson (pictured above) signed up for a Strictly Come Dancing-style charity event, she wasn\u2019t sure she\u2019d be accepted. Living with a rare lung disease and relying on oxygen every day, she thought her dancing days might be behind her.<\/p>\n

But now, the former NHS worker from Wigan is preparing to take to the dancefloor at Old Trafford Cricket Ground on Saturday, September 27 – and she\u2019s doing it to raise funds for Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Diagnosed with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) a decade ago, Tina\u2019s condition has significantly impacted her lungs, heart, and everyday life.<\/p>\n

Once bounding up and down the stairs at Manchester Arena as a security steward, she now plans her day around oxygen. But her message is clear: life doesn\u2019t stop with a diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Tina said: \u201cI honestly thought the oxygen would be a barrier and exclude me, but the charity has been amazing. I\u2019m so excited to be doing this – it\u2019s about raising money, having fun, and showing people that being on oxygen isn\u2019t the end of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paired with professional dancer Christopher from Cadmans Dance Centre in Sale, Tina is taking on the dramatic Argentine Tango – a complex routine full of sharp turns, flair, and emotion. Her goal is to complete the dance without her oxygen tank.<\/p>\n

\u201cArgentine Tango is hard – it\u2019s got twizzy bits, fast bits, slow bits and kicky bits,\u201d Tina laughs. \u201cBut I\u2019m determined to do it. I want to prove to others with chronic illness that you don\u2019t have to sit life out.\u201d<\/p>\n

And she\u2019s not alone\u2026 Joining Tina on the dancefloor is Karen Hill, from Culcheth, who was diagnosed with stage 4 EGFR+ adenocarcinoma, an incurable form of lung cancer, in January 2023. At the time, Karen didn\u2019t think she\u2019d see another Christmas but now she is now embracing every opportunity life offers – including this one.<\/p>\n

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Karen (pictured above) explains: \u201cHaving cancer has not hindered me in any way. In fact, my life has got better.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy diagnosis made me realise life is short and we have to grab everything with both hands. So that\u2019s what I\u2019m doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karen\u2019s story began with a cough and a pain in her side which she thought was a pulled muscle. An x-ray quickly turned into a CT scan, then a shock diagnosis. Initially told it was stage 1, a later appointment corrected the record: stage 4 – terminal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that moment, I felt like my life was over,\u201d Karen said. \u201cI cried all the time. But then Christmas came and went, and I thought, \u2018Hang on – I\u2019m still here, and I feel no different.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI started a cancer support group, climbed Snowdon, and now I\u2019m dancing. I would never have done this if I hadn\u2019t had cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am living with cancer every day, doing everything I love with the people I love. So do one, cancer! I\u2019m in charge – not you!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Strictly Ballroom fundraiser is a night of sparkle and purpose. All proceeds support Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation – the UK\u2019s leading lung cancer charity- and its work in prevention, early detection, patient support, and life-saving research.<\/p>\n

Paula Chadwick, chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, commented: \u201cEvents like this are about more than just glitz and glamour. They help fund vital services for people affected by lung cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cManchester, in particular, sees some of the highest lung cancer rates in the country. This event brings hope, raises awareness, and funds the research and support that saves lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in Greater Manchester, with survival rates still significantly lower than other cancers. Each year, around 1,400 people in Greater Manchester are diagnosed with lung cancer.<\/p>\n

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is working to change that – through targeted awareness campaigns, supporting NHS screening programmes, and investing in research that leads to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.<\/p>\n

Event details<\/p>\n