Star dancers Neil and Katya Jones to appear at 10th anniversary Strictly Air Ambulance and Aftershow Party

20^th February 2019

Star dancers Neil and Katya Jones to appear at 10^th anniversary Strictly Air Ambulance and Aftershow Party

Dancing stars Neil and Katya Jones are the Celebrity Judges for the 10^th anniversary Strictly Air Ambulance on Saturday 23^rd March at Charter Hall in Colchester.

At the show, organised by Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT), five amateur dancers partnered by local professional dance teachers will dance against each other in friendly competition. Each couple will perform either a Latin or Ballroom plus their choice for a showdance. Neil and Katya will also entertain the audience with two demonstration dances.

Tickets for the show, sponsored by Jamesons Chartered Accountants and GCS Fire and Security Systems, can be purchased via Charter Hall (colchester-events.co.uk) from £22.50 each.

This year ticket holders will be able to buy tickets for an exclusive 10^th anniversary Aftershow Party attended by Neil and Katya Jones, the contestants, their professional dance partners, and the team who put on the event.

Tickets for the Aftershow Party cost £10 each and are available via the EHAAT website, ehaat.org, to anyone who has already bought a ticket for Strictly Air Ambulance.

Guests will be welcomed into the party with a glass of bubbly and canapes. DJ Peter Maasz will be playing dancefloor fillers to keep everyone partying all evening. The bar will be open and food will be available to purchase. Tickets for this very special event are limited, so dance fans are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.

Jen Wall, Events and Volunteer Lead at EHAAT said: “It’s great to have two fantastic celebrity dancers attending our 10^th anniversary Strictly Air Ambulance. It will be a very special evening.

“Strictly is one of our most popular events and no wonder. Charter Hall in Colchester is transformed into a glamorous dance hall and the atmosphere is electric.

“All our contestants and professionals work so hard to learn their dances and give their best. Of course, it’s wonderful to see our judges in action. We’re looking forward to welcoming Neil and Katya.

“The Aftershow Party, marking 10 years of Strictly Air Ambulance, will be a chance for the audience and competitors to round off the evening in style. It will be an enjoyable and memorable night, raising funds for an amazing Charity.”

Competitors for this year’s event are:

Lisa Jane Rose from Colchester, owner of LJ Rose Accounting partnered by Chris Burrell of Starlight Dancing, Colchester.

Sarah Wareham from Chelmsford (Daughter of EHAAT founder Brian Shipley), partnered by Adrian Wisner of Footsteps Ballroom.

James Mullett (Critical Care Paramedic at EHAAT), partnered by Emma Burrell of Starlight Dancing, Colchester.

Toni Butterfield, partnered by Sam Jeffrey of Dazzle Dance Centre.

Paul Dewing from Clacton, owner of GCS Fire & Security, partnered by professional dancer Lucy Heath.

NB. Aftershow tickets can only be purchased when a Strictly Air Ambulance 2019 ticket has also been purchased. For more information see ehaat.org/events/strictly-air-ambulance/

-ENDS-

Photograph: Neil and Katya Jones, Celebrity Judges for Strictly Air Ambulance 2019

For more information please contact Gavin Sherriff, PR Officer, on 0345 2417 690.

Notes to Editor:

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is a Charity that provides a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.

The service is provided free of charge but, unlike NHS emergency services, the Charity receives no direct funding from the Government or National Lottery. It costs in excess of £750,000 every month to keep the service operational and saving lives, and this would not be possible without the generosity and goodwill of people and businesses of Essex, Hertfordshire and beyond.

Each of the Charity’s HEMS teams consist of a Pilot, a Co-pilot, a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and a Critical Care Paramedic.

These teams, made up of highly-skilled individuals, tended to 1,491 patients in 2018 and are the backbone of your local life-saving Charity.

The fleet, consisting of two Air Ambulances, and four Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs - cars) operates seven days a week from 7am to 9pm. After sunset, the Critical Care Team continues to provide the service using Rapid Response Vehicles.

In addition, a Rapid Response Vehicle is operational on a Friday and Saturday evening from 6pm until 2am with a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic.