A marathon dance fest has raised more than £1,000 for charity.  The two-night sell-out shows at Merlin’s nightclub, Leysdown, on Saturday and Sunday were staged by dance school boss Helen Kyriacou. 

She and her staff teamed up with Sheppey musician Mick Kenten to present a tribute to the 1970’s with 144 dancers. 

Afterwards Helen, who runs the Helen K school at the former Abbot Social club in Queenborough, said: “It was a mammoth amount of work but everyone was brilliant.” 

The two nights not only showcased her pupils, but raised money for CRY, a national charity highlighting Cardiac Risk in the Young.  Sheppey girl Charlotte Wright died three years ago from a heart defect which had gone undetected.  Her mother Karen Williams donated a Chopper bike to raffle for the charity.  The winner refused to accept it and asked for it to be auctioned.  It was bought by Martin Jackson, boss of Marine Industrial Transmissions at Queenborough for £150.  He said later: “I will be donating it to Demelza House.” 

The show, called Do You Wanna Funk? featured songs such as Grease, Night Fever and a Village People medley.  It also marked the first time the Butch Memorial Cup had been awarded to a dancer.  The cup was donated by family and friends of Bobbing biker Richard Butcher, who died in a motorcycle in September. 

It went to 18-year-old Billy Warren (receiving cup, right) from Saxon Avenue, Minster, who has been with the school since it opened in 1997. 

Billy, who was the star of the show in his duets with Alison Parsons, admitted he joined with two left feet.  But he said: “I have always enjoyed dancing. 

“I owe it all to Helen and her team.”