EVEREST Community College will host two fundraising zumba fitness sessions in memory of Basingstoke TV contestant Spencer Uren.

Spencer, of Hackwood Road, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on May 31, 2009, aged 37, shortly after filming Channel 4’s reality food show Come Dine With Me.

He took part, hoping to win the cash prize and help his sister, who was being treated for cancer.

But shortly after filming was completed, Spencer was diagnosed with cancer himself, and he died a few months later.

Fellow contestant Gill Buley set up a charity in Spencer’s memory to raise money for the ward at Basingstoke hospital where Spencer was treated.

Half the money raised at the zumba sessions will be given to that charity, raising money for the Elizabeth Hall Centre, at Basingstoke hospital and half to St Michael’s Hospice, on the Basingstoke hospital campus.

The sessions are scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 21.

Becky Lane, 25, is a Zumba instructor from South Ham and organiser of the event. She said: “The reason for me doing this is because Spencer Uren was a friend of mine, and he died from a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that was unfortunately not treatable.”

The morning session will be at 10.30am, and the afternoon session at 1pm. Each will last two hours and cost £10.

Zumba is a Latin music inspired dance-fitness programme that has grown into the world’s largest of its kind with more than 12million people in over 125 countries taking part in weekly sessions.

Becky said: “Zumba is becoming increasingly popular in Basing-stoke and I thought it would be a great way to get people together and have a zumba party to raise money for such great causes.”

For more information on how to register, or if you are a zumba instructor and would like to get involved, please visit http://zum bainbasingstoke.wordpress.com/ or contact Becky at: zumbacharity@hotmail.co.uk.