‘A Regal Affair’ sets new record in Richmond County Hospice’s Dancing with the Stars fundraiser

HAMLET — Richmond County Hospice had a goal of at least matching last year’s total for its pinnacle fundraiser, Taste of the Sandhills Showcasing Dancing with the Stars.

“A Regal Affair” — the theme of this year’s event — surpassed that, with CEO Kristina Leyden telling the RO on Monday that, although the money is still being counted, it’s hovering just above $95,000.

Attendees filed into a sold-out event at Cole Auditorium Saturday, sampling selections from more than 20 local restaurants and bakers before the show.

This year’s event was themed after the Netflix show “Bridgerton,” mixing modern drama and music with pre-Victorian flair. The set, designed by Nic Wilkes, reflected the elegance of the period.

The nine dance teams included: a husband-wife couple, J.C. and Karen Everett; a team of sisters, Brandy Wheeler and Jessica Wheeler White; two mother-daughter duos, Heather and Chloe Taylor, and Katherine and Bayden Bendell; and a father-daughter group, Wayne and Morgan Quinn.

The other dancers included the pairings of Justin McDonald and Brandi Miller, Dr. Bill Cleveland and Nicole Blake, Tyree Brewington and Rahmeishia McKiver, and Meredith Standridge and Allie Coen.

Returning judges Travis Breen, Eric McCotter and Kim Menna watched each performance carefully, offering compliments and critiques, eventually deciding that McKiver and Brewington were the best dancers of the night, winning Judges’ Choice.

Cleveland and Blake raised the most money leading up to the event, winning the Hospice Choice award, and the Everetts were the crowd’s favorite, winning People’s Choice.

There were also performances by local schools and Bold Moves Dance Company and Dance Sensations, as well as a group from Hospice Haven and last year’s winners.

Attendees voted on their favorite food vendor, with The Grille coming in first place and Silly Dee’s Cakes at second. The winner for best table decoration went to The Taco Factory.

The very first DWTS event brought in $23,000 and the total has increased each year: including $60,000 in 2019; $80,000 in 2022; and $87,000 in 2023. Hospice put the event on hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

See additional photos on the RO’s Facebook page.