Seven couples will compete for your votes and a disco ball trophy with their dance moves.

Richmond County Hospice will host “Dancing With The Stars” tonight at RCC’s Cole Auditorium. The event is a fundraiser for the Hospice’s Haven, a six-bed residency that allows those who have a limited amount of time to live to be cared for in such a way that they receive a maximum quality of life.

According to Lisa Ledford, volunteer coordinator and development for Richmond County Hospice, the Haven receives little reimbursement.

“The Haven at Hospice, in the past five years, spent over $1.4 million in unreimbursed care,” Ledford said. She believes that regardless of the cost, everyone deserves to spend their last moments with dignity and pain free.

“We’re here and available and will provide it,” said Ledford about the compassionate care the Hospice staff specializes in. For her, caring for the terminally ill is a passion, as well as the nurses, social workers and volunteers that work together to provide the gift of hope.

The fundraising event has several corporate sponsors who have contributed funds, such as Wells Fargo, Mabry’s Drug and Home Care, FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital, Sandhills Regional Medical Center, Family Pharmacy, Four Oaks Bank and BB&T. Ledford said the dancers themselves have been competitively raising funds to donate as well.

Mayor Gene McLaurin and his wife Donna will dance the Waltz to “Papillon,” Songs from A Secret Garden. Lee and Karen Jenkins will dance the Carolina Shag to “Lover Lover” by Mark Roberts and the Breeze Band. Bruce Stanback and Kimberly Harrington will dance the Salsa to “I Know You Want Me” by Pit Bull. Patrick Ledford and Julie Sanders will dance the Cha Cha to “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez. A line dance exhibition by Jenkins’ Tuesday night dance class will perform to “Road Runner” by Microwave Dave. Brian Kendall and his wife Sherri will dance the Hustle to “Men in Black” by Will Smith. Mark Rohleder and his wife Katie will dance the Carolina Shag to “Come Get To This” by Marvin Gaye. Ben Mercer and Janie Campbell will dance the West Coast Swing to “Harlem Hit Parade” by Little Izzy. There will be a second line dance exhibition performed to “Sex Bomb” by Tom Jones.

This event will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Richmond County Hospice, and the support Hospice has received from the community.

“The response from the community has been tremendous,” Ledford said. “Everyone here is a star.”

Among other caterers, Dennis Vineyard from Albemarle will have wine tastings of their various muscadine wines, ranging in sweetness. They will sell their wine by the glass, as well as bottles.

“Our Christmas wines make excellent gifts,” said Amy Dennis. “They have Christmas labels on them.”

Bottles of muscadine and scuppernong wines range in price from $9 to $12 before taxes. The samples from the vineyard will include muscadines, chardonnays and pinot grigio mixes, merlots, semi-dry rose, and their holiday blends.

“We’re open year round,” Dennis said. Dennis Vineyard is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Tickets for this event are no longer available at the door, but Ledford they will try and not turn people away. Tickets sold for $35 per person, $50 per couple. The event starts at 7 p.m., and the tickets include two free dance lessons at Liberty Place. The audience members will use one of their tickets to vote for their favorite dancers, and can buy additional votes for $10. The dancers that raise the most money will get to take the trophy home. All the proceeds of this event go to the Richmond County Hospice Haven.

For more information contact RCC’s Cole Auditorium at 910-410-1690.

Staff Writer Dawn Kurry can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 15, or by e-mail at dkurry@yourdailyjournal.com.