To celebrate her 70th year and raise much needed funds for the charity she founded, from noon on Friday 15 May 2026, Laura Murphy is dancing for a full 24 hours!
Laura has dedicated many years to founding and running, fundraising and supporting the WayfinderWoman charity. Now for her 70th year, she would like to mark the occasion with a fundraising one off. Laura hopes to secure the immediate future of the charity, its hub and its ability to support local women with this 24 hour danceathon.
The What
24 hours of dancemania! Over the course of a full day, Laura will be dancing (with the requisite food and drink breaks!) at the MissionFiit Hailsham activity hub. Guided by dance professionals, she will boogie her way through a variety of styles and music – all while in her 70th year around the sun. MissionFiit’s neighbours, The Rum Infusionist are also supporting Laura by helping people party along Friday afternoon and evening. The Danceathon will be live streamed via our YouTube Channel thanks to the media expertise of Brian Drinkwater . It’s considered to be an endurance event and so Laura is in training with the help of Ace Corporate Fitness
The day will be split into one hour slots with a different dance style for each hour from noon on Friday 15 May to noon on Saturday 16 May. The most difficult time for her will be those early hours after midnight before the sun starts to rise. At the beginning she’ll be full of energy and towards the end, although exhausted, she’ll have the support of those urging her on for the last few hours.
The public can get involved by joining in (in person or virtually), donating to secure a song choice, sponsoring part of the event, or donating via JustGiving to the overall cause. The aim is to raise at least £7,000. Secretly Laura’s hoping to get closer to £70,000! She needs a lot of help from people like you to do this though – and to survive for 24 hours.
How YOU can get involved
Take part on the day. we need people from all walks of life to join Laura through the different hours to keep her company and to celebrate taking part in this amazing, fun filled endurance event. You can dance with her for an hour, or two or more.
All we ask is that you make a donation when you come (suggested £5-10) or raise your own sponsorship of at least £20. Here’s the confirmed dances so far:
Friday 15 May
12:00 – 13:00pm Abba themed Zumba with Kiera from MissionFiit
13:00-14:00 tbc
14:00-15:00 Contemporary Dance with Yanaelle Ritter
15:00-16:00 Line dancing with Ros Burtenshaw
16:00-17:00 Ballroom with Sarah Black followed by…
17:00-18:00 Salsa with Sarah
18:00-19:00 Swoove with Cat Beveridge
19:00-20:00 Morris Dancing with Andrew Rannie
21:00-23:00 It’s disco time! Enjoy music of the 70s.
Midnight onwards it’s party time with BodiBlossom
Saturday 16 May
3:00-7:00am tbc
7:00-8:00 Ballet with Emma Fisher
8:00-9:00 Swoove with Charlotte
9:00-10:00 tbc
10:00-11:00 Line dancing with Golden Boot Award winner Ben Murphy
11:00-12:00noon Finish the 24 hours with inspirational music from female artists!
You can also help with the planning or on the day.
If you’re interested in any of these contact us on info@wayfinderwoman.com and follow us on Facebook, Insta and TikTok
We can’t wait to see how much dance can really be packed into 1,440 minutes!
