You’re very lucky if you, a family member or a friend don’t need St Rocco’s Hospice at some point in your life. It’s that important to our town and we should all do our bit to keep it running.

19 years ago, my dad spent his last weeks in St Rocco’s, so I have first-hand experience of how necessary the hospice is to patients and their families. 

I was at the fabulous Strictly St. Rocco’s event for the first time last year and was ‘fortunately’ nominated to take part this year. I couldn’t really say no, could I?

St Rocco's provide care for patients with life limiting illness. The hospice costs about £3.6m per year or £10,000 per day to run and relies mainly on the fund raising efforts of the people of Warrington.Only 22% of the budget comes from the NHS, so your help is needed!

Here's some more info from my 'Warrington Guardian article'.

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Emile Kreisler, managing director of Smithfields in Stockton Heath can usually be found working long days and nights in his London Road showroom trying to keep kitchen clients happy.

To recognise Smithfields reaching its 10 year milestone, Emile has taken on an even tougher task by volunteering to be a contestant for Strictly St Rocco’s 2018.

The glamorous fundraising event in aid of the Warrington Hospice will be held at The Mere Golf Resort on Sunday 9^th December.

Emile has committed to the obligatory Strictly look of spray tan, make up, lycra, sequins and heeled shoes, and will nervously perform in front of the cameras, judges and a sold out 400 strong  audience on the big night.

He has been given the fast and tricky jive dance and it’s not going very well so far.

‘Training has been a complete shock to my system. It’s much harder than I thought it would be. My professional partner Amy has been incredibly patient, I was an absolute duffer at first and I’m not much better now’

Emile has had to make sacrifices to attend training at Cadmans Dance Centre, including the rare feat of leaving work early, spending more time away from his supportive family and even missing some of Liverpool’s Champions League games - but he has been determined to see it through!

‘My dad spent his last weeks in St Rocco’s so I have first-hand experience of how necessary the hospice is to patients and their families. It’s a cause close to my heart and my single minded objective is to raise a substantial amount of money for the hospice.’

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