DRWF Fundraising: Footsteps on the playground dancefloor raise a record-breaking amount for Dance for Diabetes in primary schools
This year’s event included 86 schools nationwide, with more than 20,000 school children taking part.
Thousands of children and families learned about all forms of diabetes, including the vital signs and symptoms in children and adults as part of this year’s Dance for Diabetes event.
For the fifth consecutive year, DRWF continued our partnership with FunKidz Dance to bring Dance for Diabetes into primary schools across the UK.
Let’s dance
Dance for Diabetes combines movement, education and fundraising to create real, lasting impact.
The recent event expanded on previous years, where mainly schools in the Portsmouth and Hampshire area took part, to include 86 primary schools from around the country.
In all, more than 20,000 pupils joined in the fundraising event – helping to raise a whopping £77,919.36. A figure that had the DRWF fundraising team dancing in the street with joy.
The final figure is even more remarkable as it eclipses the total sum raised in the previous four years of the event put together – that saw more than £75,000 shared between participating schools and DRWF.
The campaign does not only boost financial support for DRWF activities. Participating schools also benefit directly, retaining 40% of the funds raised by their own school as a cash boost to support their pupils and school community.
Thanks to our unique pledge to donate 40p of every £1 raised back to the schools, more than £30,000 will now be returned directly to participating schools for them to reinvest in their pupils and school communities.
Everybody dance now
In the run-up to the event, schools received a host of ready-made classroom resources supported by a step-by-step and simple to follow dance video, choreographed to a well-known pop song by Hampshire-based afterschool provider, FunKidz Dance.
This year’s event saw schools across the country get into the groove, working meticulously on their steps from the beginning of the summer term – for the performance week, from 18th–22nd May.
In preparation, schools were instructed to show the choreography video in classes for around 5 minutes, 2–3 times a week to familiarise pupils with the dance, foster pupil togetherness and increase engagement in readiness for a whole school performance and non-school uniform day at the finale.
During this time, pupils took home a pre-packed welcome letter and sponsorship pack allowing them to gain sponsorship for their efforts.
Tim Green, Head of Community Fundraising at DRWF said: “I am incredibly proud of what Dance for Diabetes has achieved this year. To see 86 schools and more than 20,000 pupils come together to dance, learn and raise an extraordinary £77,919.36 is genuinely remarkable.
“This event is about so much more than fundraising. It is helping children, families and school communities better understand all forms of diabetes, including the vital signs and symptoms that everyone should know. At the same time, more than £30,000 will be returned directly to participating schools through our 60/40 fundraising promise.
“None of this would have been possible without the energy of the pupils, the commitment of teachers, the generosity of families and our fantastic partnership with FunKidz Dance. This has been our biggest and most successful year yet, and I could not be more grateful to everyone who played a part.”
Special congratulations to Court Lane Infant Academy in Cosham, Hampshire, who were the highest fundraising school – collecting a superb £3,862.50.
The highest individual fundraiser was Sophia Green, who raised an extraordinary £1,804.76.
To every pupil who danced, every teacher who supported the event, every family who donated and every school that took part: Thank you! Together, you have raised vital funds, increased awareness, and made Dance for Diabetes 2026 our biggest and most successful year yet.
You should be dancing – Sign up for Dance for Diabetes 2027
If you would like to register your school to take part in next year’s Dance for Diabetes, please click here
Read more about how you can get involved in DRWF Fundraising
For news on all upcoming DRWF Fundraising events click here
For more information about diabetes, read the DRWF Signs and symptoms of diabetes information resource here
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