Chartham Park A Celebration of Claire – Members Charity Fitness Day

Friday 13th November 2026

On Friday 13th November, Chartham Park will be hosting a very special charity event in memory of our friend and much-loved class instructor, Claire Howes, while raising money for the wonderful St Catherine’s Hospice. Claire was a talented and inspiring instructor who brought energy and enthusiasm to every class. She was passionate about helping people discover the joy of dancing whilst keeping active and having fun, and she touched the lives of so many members and colleagues. As a club, we will greatly miss her.

To celebrate Claire’s life and the incredible impact she had on our community, our instructors will deliver a variety of themed fitness classes throughout the day. We invite all members and their guests to come along, get involved and help us create a memorable day in Claire’s honour. Details on the classes will be in the Club App timetable and available to book from 7.15pm on Friday 6th November.

Claire was a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing and, despite her health challenges, was fortunate enough to meet many of the dancers she admired. In tribute to her love of all things Strictly, the event will follow a Strictly Come Dancing theme, so we encourage everyone to wear something bright, colourful, sparkly or glamorous and help us fill the club with fun and celebration.

Alongside the classes, there will be a charity raffle with all proceeds going directly to St Catherine’s Hospice. We are currently seeking raffle prize donations from members and local businesses, and raffle tickets will be available to purchase both in the lead-up to the event and on the day itself. Please hand in any raffle prize donations to our Reception team by Thursday 12th November.

We'll also be holding a bake sale throughout the day and would love everyone to get involved by donating a homemade or shop-bought bake. If you would like to contribute, please drop your cakes and bakes off at the club on the morning of Friday 13th November. Every ticket purchased and every donation received will help support the incredible work carried out by St Catherine’s Hospice for local families.

Whether you join us for a class, buy a raffle ticket, bake a cake, make a donation to St Catherine's Hospice or simply come along to show your support, we would love to see you there as we remember Claire and raise money for a truly worthwhile cause.