A fitness studio is inviting dancers to take part in the Miss Pole Fitness Northern Ireland 2008 competition at the YMCA, Drumahoe, Londonderry, tonight from 7.30pm.

The competition is in aid of the Make-A-Wish Foundation — the charity that grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses and CRY — Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Miss Pole Fitness Northern Ireland 2008 will be a performance-based competition highlighting the artistic and athletic skills of the dancers.

There are three categories: amateur, intermediate and advanced. 

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Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third places in all three categories.

The judges include world-renowned pole fitness performer Miss KT Coates.

As well as raising money for charity, the organisers, Bodytalk Fitness Studio, hope to take pole fitness to a new level as an accepted form of competitive sport and fitness.

Event organiser Melissa O’Neil said: 

“I opened Bodytalk Fitness studio a year ago and thought about organising different ways to raise our profile and the competition seemed a great way to raise money for charities as well.

“We chose Make-A-Wish along with CRY as we wanted to support local children’s charities. 

All the organisation of the competition has been done by me and a few of my students. 

We are all very excited!”

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