Hundreds tap along to help Roy’s fund

Jan 21 2008 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Hundreds tap along to help Roy’s fund

HUNDREDS of tap dancers raised money for the fight against lung cancer.

Twenty dance schools took part in the 12th Roy’s Relay Tapathon at the North Bridge Leisure Centre in Halifax yesterday.

The event is in memory of Scholes-born entertainer Roy Castle, who died of lung cancer in 1994 despite never having smoked.

The Tapathon was organised by Derek and Vera Hamer and the Calderdale Fundraising Support Group.

Once again, hundreds of dancers from all around West Yorkshire took part in this tap dancing marathon.

Over the years the event has raised more than £156,000 in sponsorship for the Roy Castle Foundation, with 2007 being a record year, raising over £18,000

The Tapathon has raised the money to pay for stop-smoking programmes and improve early detection of lung cancer.

Roy’s widow, Fiona, was at the event, which saw each school perform for 15 to 20 minutes.

The event ran from 10am to 4.30pm.