Man wins 'Strictly' contest days after sister dies

Gareth Higgins and professional dance partner Beth Keeble, along with other competitors, helped raise more than £120,000 for the Dougie Mac Hospice

A man won an amateur Strictly dance competition days after his sister's death at the hospice he and his dance partner were fundraising for.

Gareth Higgins' sister Sharon, 58, was diagnosed with a rare form of gall bladder cancer in August, and died at the Dougie Mac Hospice in Stoke-on-Trent last Monday.

Mr Higgins said so many people in the audience at the Strictly Knot Dancing event on Friday knew his story, it felt like they were all hugging him at the same time.

The event, which partnered amateur dancers with professionals at King's Hall, generated more than £120,000 for the hospice - the most raised in a single event.

Mr Higgins, the boss of KMF Precision Sheet Metal Ltd, started training eight to nine weeks ago, just as his sister was diagnosed.

Hospice staff 'phenomenal'

"We've gone through all the emotions. Sharon battled really hard with cancer, but almost this time last Monday she passed away in the Dougie Mac," he said.

The care from the hospice for his sister and the family had been "phenomenal", he said, adding that seeing staff at such close quarters, showed just how important fundraising was to "give them every tool to carry on doing what they do".

Mr Higgins said the experience of dancing on the night had been fantastic and that his nerves had just disappeared, adding that all the dancers had trained hard.

The Strictly Knot Dancing fundraiser was held at King's Hall in Stoke

"The atmosphere in the room was electric, everybody was so keen to make sure it was a special night for everyone, everybody put their hands in the pockets," he said.

He was victorious with a "loosely-defined paso-tango" to the White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, one of his favourite songs.

There were "far better dancers," said the MD of the Newcastle-under-Lyme based fabrication company.

Despite not expecting to win, he ended up taking home the trophy he had made.