Fifteen-year-old William Kirvan, from High Heaton, will be hosting a charity Zumbathon on 21st June 2025 in aid of the Maggie’s Centre, Newcastle.
He was inspired to fundraise after his Mum, Belinda, received a diagnosis of Stage 2 Ovarian Cancer in November 2024 and received support from the charity.
Schoolboy William – one of Europe’s youngest qualified Zumba® instructors – will be holding his two-hour Zumbathon at the White Swan Centre in Killingworth, and is one of ten expert instructors who will be leading classes across the event.
From 10.00am – 12.00pm, Zumba®-enthusiasts both new and old will join the passionate teenager to raise funds for a cause very close to his heart. The pair are vocal about the support provided by the Maggie’s Centre in Newcastle, which is based in the grounds of the Freeman Hospital.
“Maggie’s is a charity for people. It works to support people and take action right now when they need some help, it has been a great support for my Mum and myself. I am determined to use my Zumba® skills and connections to raise as much as I can to show my gratitude and to spread the word about the great work that Maggie’s Newcastle does. I initially hoped to raise £1,000 but I have already managed to beat that target, which is amazing.”
William
“I am so proud of William for thinking of this wonderful idea and then working so hard to plan every part of the event to bring the idea to life. He has spent a lot of time planning and coordinating it all. Maggie’s is so unique and offers much needed support, with a wide programme of activities and a great opportunity to meet others going through treatment. I am delighted William is doing this for such a fantastic cause because of our experiences”
William’s Mum Belinda
William, who attends Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle, qualified as a Zumba instructor in October 2024. Since then, he has established his own popular weekly classes, where he leads an energetic workout for adults more than double his age! He also recently travelled to Gran Canaria to lead a class after qualifying as an Aqua Zumba Instructor.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be supporting William and the local Zumba community with their Zumbathon Charity Event. As a charity Maggie’s Newcastle relies on donations and fundraising efforts such as this one to allow us to continue to develop our unique, high quality programme of support, offering the best support possible to people with cancer as well as their family and friends.
Karen Verrill, Centre Head at Maggie’s Newcastle
Everyone at Maggie’s sends the very best of luck and is hugely thankful to all involved with the Zumbathon charity event for choosing to support us.”
Tickets are still available to Willliam’s Zumbathon here for £10.00 per person. Walk-ins will be accepted on the day subject to capacity and ticket availability: https://www.zumba.com/en-US/event/view/newcastle2025
Donations can also be made to his JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/newcastle2025
