MORE THAN 40 people hit the dancefloor at a special three-hour event in Thornbury, raising money for charities through a special “Zumbathon”.

With plenty of energetic moves on display, the event at the Castle School last Sunday raised an incredible £2,280 for charities including the campaign for Thornbury toddler Ezzy Hodge Ezzy’s Wish to Walk, as well as GAIN, Teenage Cancer Trust, Crohns & Colitis, the Wallace & Gromit appeal, the British Heart Foundation and Ups & Downs.

Among the prizes in the raffle that was on offer to raise funds was a ticket to a Zumba Masterclass with YouTube sensation Claudiu Gutu, which will be held in Thornbury on September 9.

The Ezzy’s Wish to Walk campaign was given £700 from donations, and Ezzy was even able to join organisers Natasha Johnson, Sam Croft and Louise Williams for the day to bring a smile to everyone’s face

Natasha told the Gazette: “We do a Zumbathon once a year and have adopted the system whereby people can choose whatever charity they wish to raise money for.

“We find people make a bigger effort when they can choose their own charity and this year was no exception.

“Sam, Louise and I chose Ezzy’s Wish to Walk and we were over the moon that she came to visit. She is such a happy little girl and she makes everyone in the room smile”

Ezzy’s mum Angela Hodge said: “We were so happy that Ezzy’s campaign was chosen and overwhelmed by the support of all the ladies, and the two gents, at the Zumbathon.

“When we arrived at the end to give the girls their flowers we thought they would all be on their knees but they were all still dancing and looking like they could carry on!”