Dancing Duo Spins Around Globe, Raising Thousands for Charity

Diane and Steve Gee, a couple from Burton Latimer in Northamptonshire, spent the year 2025 traveling the world and jiving in different locations to raise money for charity. Their unique journey took them to 108 international venues, where they danced to support Macmillan Cancer Support and the Cyprus Alzheimer's Association. In total, they raised £4,473 for these causes. The idea for this challenge began when Diane was about to celebrate her 60th birthday. A friend suggested she mark the occasion by dancing in 60 different places. Diane and Steve loved the idea, and it quickly grew into a much bigger project.

Throughout their travels, Diane and Steve danced in some truly remarkable places. They jived with sea lions in Chile, inside a submarine, and in front of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil. They also danced in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and at Machu Picchu in Peru, which Steve said was his favorite spot because of its iconic scenery. The couple joined a jive club after moving to Cyprus in 2023, and as their confidence grew, they decided to use their dancing to help others. Their final fundraising dance took place on New Year's Eve at a sports bar near their home.

During their adventure, Diane and Steve often asked strangers to record their dances, which sometimes attracted curious looks from people nearby. Diane recalled that the oddest looks they received were at a train station in New Delhi, where they danced on the platform surrounded by hundreds of locals. Now that the challenge is over, Diane says they will continue jiving, but without the pressure of doing it for charity. Dancing has become an important part of their lives and travels. They have already booked a jiving cruise around the Caribbean for March, and Diane says that whenever they travel, they will always look for new places to dance. For Diane and Steve, jiving is now part of the fun and excitement of exploring the world.