A DANCE teacher is holding a ‘24-hour shimmython’ this weekend to raise funds for two charities close to her heart.

Bridget Poulter, of Westview in Letchworth GC, decided to organise a non-stop Egyptian dancing event in the town for Breast Cancer Care and the Multiple Sclerosis Trust as her two sisters, Claire and Lesley, have been affected by these conditions.

The 48-year-old hopes to raise �500 for each cause as a result of the fundraiser, which starts at David’s Bookshop at midday on Saturday with a performance by Egyptian dance group Banat Al Gharb and continues through to midday on Sunday.

The shimmython will see workshops and taster sessions open to the public held at Wilbury Junior School in Bedford Road from 1.15pm on Saturday, including samba dancing, a stick dance masterclass and a mum and daughter ‘Wiggle with Mother’ class.

Saturday’s shimmying ends with a hafla from 7.30pm to 11pm - featuring live drumming, performances from groups across the region and a Mediterranean meze from Saharaz Bistro for a ticket price of �10.

A group of dancers will then wiggle their way through the night with a combination of dancing, dance challenges, and sleeping bag shimmies before a ‘Mass Mustapha’ group choreography and performance concludes the event on Sunday.

“I’m organising this as I wanted to do something constructive to help them and other people affected by these conditions,” said Bridget, who teaches Raqs Sharqi at the Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living and for Stevenage Leisure Ltd.

“I’ve already raised �1200 for MS Trust, over the past couple of years, and hope to raise more this week.”

On why she decided to take up Egyptian dance, Bridget added: “It’s a great dance as you don’t need a partner and is a unique way of expressing yourself. The music is fabulous and mesmerising with its heartbeat of drums and we get the opportunity to dress up too. It’s an escape from nine to five and exercises the whole body.”

For more information about the shimmython call Bridget on 07766 086183.

To sponsor the event visit www.justgiving.com/24-hourShimmython or www.justgiving.com/24-hourShimmython2 to donate to the MS Trust, based in Letchworth GC, or Breast Cancer Care respectively.