SWING dancers will perform for up to three hours to raise money for a deaf school in Africa.

Swingout Swindon is running its second Swing-Moves-athon on July 27 at Christ church community centre to help Daru Lower Basic school in Gambia employ a teaching assistant in sign language.

Erica Fowers, who runs Swingout Swindon with her husband Cliff said: “The swingmovesathon is a three hours session but you can book and pay for one, two- or three-hours dependant on your fitness level. It will be fun and full of smiles and great tunes.

“We chose this charity as Barbara Anscombe who attends our Swing Moves class is deaf. She went over to Gambia to see how she could help the charity with the deaf children.

“When she came back, she was determined to help the deaf children as there was no provision for deaf children in the rural communities or schools.”

Last year the group raised enough funds for the school to hire a teacher for a year at the Deaf Unit at Daru Lower Basic school. They are hoping to do the same this year.

Erica added “Hajara was chosen by the community to be trained by St Johns Deaf school on the coast and returned after a term to set up the unit in September.

“Gambian Deaf Children charity visited in October to test the children and report on the progress which was very positive. We are now looking for sponsors to continue the work and expand the unit.”