Published: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 4:39pm

11 'couples' to trip light fantastic for charity

by Noelle Finegan

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With a complete sell-out show for this weekend's Strictly Come Dancing event, the night looks set to be a big success at Knightbrook Hotel, Trim.

For those who have secured their tickets, they are in for an evening full of excitement when 11 'couples' will compete for the title of winner, promise the organisers. The couples taking part are Sinead Bellew and David Beggy, Graham Geraghty and Sheila Slattery, Bernadette Gavagan and Willie Fay, Derek Darby and Noreen Walsh, Mary Sheridan and Wayne Harding, Maire McTaggart and Gordon Weldon, Siobhan McDonagh and Patrick Tuite, Emily Coldrick and Kenny Henry, Shane McDonagh and Ruth Collins, Ann Myles and Matthew Reilly, Louise Marry and Cathal O'Reilly.

The judges are singer Gloria, Colm O'Rourke, Navan Town Centre manager Pat Mullaney and Fiona Carroll, who danced with Riverdance in the United States. They will have to make tough decisions on the night as all the competitors have spent weeks practicing to perfect their steps. There will also be dance displays and a raffle and the evening will be finished off with The Supertones, who have reformed for the evening.

The fundraiser is in aid of Mother of Peace Children's Home in Illovo, South Africa, an orphanage which is home to 60 children. A committee from around Meath formed a number of years ago and have raised much-needed funds for this charity.

For the past three years, numerous volunteers have raised money and travelled to Illovo to build new houses for the children and monthly donations are used for vital medication as the vast majority of the children are HIV positive. Further information on the charity is available at www.motherofpeace.ie