Elgin grandmother (84) raises incredible £10,000 for charity with 'dancercise' classes
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AN 84-year-old Elgin grandmother has raised over £10,000 for charity by leading keep fit dance sessions.
Dot Bremner, who is partially sighted and suffers from hearing loss, has raised the funds for North East Sensory Services (NESS) with her popular 'dancercise' classes.
The grandmother-of-four travels almost 100 miles each week to teach over 60s and people with learning difficulties and mobility issues.
However, after nearly half a decade of selfless fundraising, the retired administration worker has now donated an incredible total of £10,010 to the charity.
“I’m over the moon with what we have achieved with the dancercise classes and really pleased to have raised so much money," Dot, who lives with her 95-year-old husband Jim, said.
“NESS has given me invaluable support and I’m glad I’ve been able to give something back.
“I’m doing two classes a week and find it immensely rewarding.
“I've always danced. I think I was dancing in the pram.
“I’ve tried all kinds. Highland, ballet, Scottish country, Latin American - even pole dancing at one stage.
“It gives me a repertoire to work on and its fun coming up with the routines.
“People don’t realise they are exercising when they are enjoying themselves.
“I’ll never stop. It’s vital to keep ourselves going and stay active as long as we can because that’s what makes life fun.”
Dot only became a fitness instructor at the age of 75 when she returned to education but she is a lifelong dancer and choreographs her own routines.
That includes the Drunken Cowboy's Pub Crawl, the Cheating Charleston and the Football Hooligans Dance among others.
She also works with local health services and visits Be Active Life Long (BALL) and Sing Exercise and Tea (SET) groups across Moray.
Graham Findlay, chief executive of NESS, said: “Dot is an incredible lady, not only for her fundraising achievements but for her zest for life to help keep others active.
“We are extremely grateful for all the money she has raised, which has helped our work in supporting people of all ages with sensory loss or impairment to live as independent a life as possible.
“Our sincere thanks go to Dot and all the members of the Moray BALL and SET Groups.”
Ness supports thousands of people across the north east. The charity’s main objective is to help people with sight or hearing loss live as independently as possible.
In Dot’s case, NESS trained her in the use of a ‘long cane’ and helped with fitting a vibrating smoke alarm under her pillow and special lighting in her home.
More information about the charity and its work can be found here.
