Brave locals are preparing to light up the dance floor on May 27 for Cancer Council’s Stars of Orange spectacular.

This year’s line-up of business owners, community leaders and teachers are now working weekly with local dance teachers, preparing their routines for the big night, where they will showcase their newly acquired talents on the dance floor.

Cosmetic nurse Kelly Bond, owner of Laser Clinics Orange, is not only the major sponsor of the fundraiser, but she will also be one of those braving the dance floor on May 27.

Kelly, originally from Vanuatu, attended boarding school on the Gold Coast. She later returned to Australia for university and trained to become a Registered Nurse. It was while working at an aged care facility that she saw first-hand the terrible struggle cancer patients endured.

As well as witnessing the effects of cancer in her professional role, Kelly’s own family has also had brushes with the terrible disease.

Her mother was diagnosed with stage four terminal liver cancer and given just seven months to live, but thanks to a miraculous clinical trial she has now been cancer-free for the last three years.

And Kelly’s mother-in-law too was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, but has since had it removed and is also living cancer free now.

“I’m very lucky that no one in my family, and in my friend network has passed away from cancer. But I’m very proud to be a part of this,” Kelly said.

When originally asked to be one of ‘Stars of Orange’, Kelly said she declined, being an introvert, and lacking any dance experience. 

“Then I thought about it, and I was just like why not give it a go? You can’t be in your comfort zone for too long. You need to push yourself, push your boundaries, otherwise you don't grow in life,” she said.

Kelly also hopes to show her two daughters that you can do anything you set your mind to and she can’t wait to have them watch her perform.

“To see them watch me onstage, I think it will be really fun,” she said.

“I do hope they can be involved, and I think they will want to be if I incorporate sparkles into it, so they see the glitz and glam.”

Kelly had her first dance rehearsal last week and is now practising weekly in the lead-up to the big night on May 27.

This year’s ‘Star’ line-up also includes: 2023 Orange Local Woman of the Year and founder of Central West Mums, Amorette Zielinski; McGrath Estate Agents’ Jack Aumuller; a group of teachers from Calare Public School; co-founder of The Avid Gardener, Peta Swift; Principal of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Blayney, Kerrie Basha; the RPT exercise physiologists team of Paul Ringland, Emily Kennedy and Fletcher Wright; and Ashlee McGrath, who’s fundraising in support of her father who was diagnosed with cancer last year.

To donate to the Cancer Council’s Stars of Orange fundraiser, visit stars.cancercouncil.com.au