A 24-HOUR danceathon at the Lechlade Festival has raised £1,400 for the Epilepsy Society, writes Elliot Cass.

Wendy Martin organised the event with friends and family and said it was a cause close to her heart as her niece had died following an epileptic seizure last year.

She undertook the challenge with friends Helen Costin, Lu-Anne Bray, Karen New and Georgie’s sisters Charlie and Laurie-Mai.

The group started dancing at 12noon on Saturday, taking turns to rest for ten minutes when necessary, but keeping the majority dancing.

Due to the festival closing during the evening they danced a conga back to a friend’s house in Lechlade where they boogied all night before returning to the venue the next morning. They carried on through to 12noon on the Sunday.

Although she admitted she was a bit sore Wendy was keen to thank all those who helped her and those that joined in with the dancing.

“About a minute in, the heavens opened and it couldn’t have rained any harder if it had tried,” she said.

“We had a lot of different people come and join us for a little dance.

“What was really lovely was the number of people who came over and spoke to us about epilepsy.

“You don’t realise until you get talking to people how many sufferers there are out there.”

The dance was in memory of Georgina Butler, Wendy’s niece, who died following an epilepsy seizure in October of last year.

Wendy explained: “Georgie was 20 when she died.

“She had suffered nocturnal epilepsy since she was a baby.

“She was on a lot of medication but it didn’t really control her fits and she would fit every single night.

“Georgie used to come up and stay with me a lot which is why all the girls knew her and they wanted to get involved as well.”

At the festival the team gave out balloons from the epilepsy society and wristbands to raise awareness of their chosen charity.

So far they have raised a total of £1400 from donations online, around the village and an impressive £500 from the Saturday of the festival.

You can still donate for the danceathon. Visit www.justgiving.com/LechladeCrowd