The countdown is on to one of the biggest and most spectacular fundraisers on the local calendar — the Stars of Orange Dance for Cancer.

The gala fundraising event sees business owner or local personalities pair with dance teachers to put on public dance performance all in the aim of raising money for the Cancer Council.

Among the brave locals who’ll be stepping onto centre stage at this year’s performances are a team of seven Registered Nurses from the Orange Health Service’s Cardiac Cath Lab.

For all seven of the women, raising money to fight cancer is a particularly personal cause.

“One of our beautiful team members in our small group battles with this disease every day so we are doing it for her,” said Cath Lab nurse Jessica Smith.

“And, for myself, this year is the tenth anniversary of my mum passing away from this disease so it is nice to do something different and to fundraise and give as much as we can to the Cancer Council.”

Dance lessons have begun in earnest ahead of the performance night on 6 June, but there is still a way to go, said Jess.

“We've had a few practice sessions and we have been a little rusty at first, but we'll see how we go— surely we can improve! We have a fantastic dance teacher, Fattisha and she is fantastic and very patient, we are hoping to learn lots off her!”

In the lead up to the big night, the Cardiac Cath Lab Team will be holding a number of fundraisers to try reach their goal of $20,000 for the Cancer Council.

“We are doing a hair dyeing fundraising event at the Oriana on the 14th of March at 4pm, where all the girls are dying their hair pink for the Cancer Council. “It is a $10 donation with a glass of Champagne on arrival,” said Jess.

“And we have a day we've called ‘Furtography’ at the Botanical Gardens on Sunday the 19th of April. Bring your pet and get a photo! It is going to be a $30 entry and we’ll be giving prizes out for the best pet photos and we are having a jumping castle, and a coffee van serving coffee during the day for us as well.”

“We are also having a trivia night in May, with auctions and raffles of donated goods. We’re hoping to raise as much money as possible for this great cause!”

To support the Cardiac Cath Lab team’s Stars of Orange fundraising effort visit stars.cancercouncil.com.au/fundraisers/cathlab or follow them on Facebook.