ESSEX & Herts Air Ambulance celebrated another dazzling evening of dance, community spirit and fundraising success as its much-loved Strictly Air Ambulance event returned to The Brentwood Centre on Saturday, 14 March.

The fourteenth year of the flagship fundraiser proved to be another outstanding success, raising an incredible £48,000 to help keep the charity's helicopters flying and critical care teams responding when every second counts.

Sponsored by Milbank Concrete Products, the sold-out dance spectacular saw hundreds of supporters gather for a night of ballroom and Latin performances inspired by this year's 'TV & Film' theme, with routines drawing inspiration from much-loved classics such as The Godfather and family favourites including Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid.

Hosted once again by Essex & Herts Air Ambulance's charity ambassador Lisa Snowdon and ITV presenter David Whiteley, the evening saw local contestants take to the dance floor alongside professional dancers, performing show-stopping routines in pursuit of the coveted Strictly Air Ambulance Glitterball Trophy.

The performances were judged by an expert panel including television personality and influencer Dani Dyer, Chelmsford Dance Centre Director and Head Judge Phil Meacham and British national professional showdance champion Ben Milan-Vega.

Adding extra sparkle to the evening were special performances from Strictly Come Dancing star Vincent Simone and his professional partner Victoria Martin. Fresh from their 'Tango Passions' tour, the pair treated audiences to two captivating tango performances, bringing the drama, passion and glamour of the iconic dance to the Brentwood stage.

At the end of an unforgettable evening of performances, the judges crowned Sara Tupper from Maldon and professional partner Martin Adkins as the Strictly Air Ambulance 2026 Glitterball champions.

Their standout Cha-Cha routine impressed both the judging panel and the audience, achieving a perfect score of 50 points and securing them the trophy after months of dedicated rehearsals and fundraising for the charity.

Speaking after the event, judge Dani Dyer said: "Honestly, I had such a lovely night judging Strictly Air Ambulance. The vibe was amazing - everyone proper went for it, and you could see how much hard work had gone into every single routine. It was just so nice seeing the whole community come together for something that means so much. I was genuinely blown away by the performances! I'm really grateful I got to be part of such a special night and help raise money for such an incredible charity."

Mark Jarman-Howe, CEO of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, added: "Strictly Air Ambulance continues to be one of the highlights of our fundraising calendar, and this year's event was truly spectacular. The dedication shown by our contestants, dancers, sponsors and supporters has helped raise an incredible £48,000, which will directly support our life-saving service.

"We are so grateful to everyone who took part, attended or supported the event in any way. Every pound raised helps ensure our crews can continue delivering advanced pre-hospital emergency care to people across Essex and Hertfordshire when they need it most."

As a charity that receives no government or NHS funding, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance relies entirely on public support and fundraising to keep its helicopters and rapid response vehicles operational. Events like Strictly Air Ambulance play a vital role in ensuring the charity's critical care teams can continue responding to emergencies across the region.

To learn more about Essex & Herts Air Ambulance's mission, explore upcoming events or make a donation, visit ehaat.org.