Stunning Performances raise over $100k for Cancer Council
The Stars of Ballina event, held on 22 November at Ballina RSL, brought the house down with spectacular performances and smashed fundraising targets in support of the Cancer Council.
One of the night’s standout acts was a dramatic contemporary dance to Lose Control by Teddy Swims, performed by Collins Hume Partner and CEO, Christopher Atkinson, with professional dance coach team mate, Maree White. Hosted by the ever-charismatic Mandy Nolan, the performance left the audience in awe.
The judges were full of praise for Chris and Maree's performance, highlighting their incredible energy, strong connection and the creative choreography that kept the audience captivated. They were especially blown away by what Chris was able to achieve on the dance floor, commending his confidence and ability to take on such a dynamic and challenging routine thanks to Maree’s training.
“I’m so incredibly grateful to everyone who supported us on this journey – from my family, friends, and the amazing Collins Hume team, to our sponsors and the entire Ballina community,” said Chris.
“Your encouragement, donations and belief in me, even when my dance moves were questionable at best, made all the difference.”
“A huge thank you to Maree for being the best dance partner I could ask for and to the judges for their kind words – it’s been an unforgettable experience, and I couldn’t have done it without all of you!"
Reflecting on their performance, Mandy said, “I have to say wow. I will never make a joke about accountants ever again.” The humorous and heartfelt banter continued as Mandy remarked on Chris’ leadership and the importance of showing flexibility, “More CEOs should be doing this!”
When asked about the experience, Chris said that he wanted to enjoy every second of it.
The audience erupted when Mandy asked if Chris had beautiful moves and Chris humbly admitted that the hardest part was perfecting some of the lifts, “We just had great time out there. Chris pulled it off, big time,” Maree said.
This year’s Stars of Ballina event exceeded the initial fundraising target of $60,000, reaching an incredible $101,000 – a testament to the generosity of the Northern Rivers community.
Chris and Maree celebrated not once, but twice on the night.
They were named Judges’ Choice Runner-Up and Fundraiser Award Runner-Up after surpassing their personal fundraising goal of $15,000. Chris accepted the Fundraiser Runner-Up Award presented by Collins Hume Partner Kelly Crethar and Tamara Hepburn, and the Judges’ Choice Runner-Up Award, presented by Curves Ballina.
Tara Koellner from the Cancer Council added, “To Chris & Maree: WOW, WOW, WOW!!!! Naturally, I have seen you perform this routine a few times in rehearsal, but on event night it hit different. Your routine was so powerful, so theatrical and so technical. It was a beautiful routine that unfolded and told a story on stage, and I could see people genuinely mesmerized in the crowd by this performance.”
“A huge achievement and a routine that was so completely different from the rest of the group. You were my only Male Star Chris, and I feel you have set the tone so positively now for the men of the Ballina Shire to take part in future events and furthermore be somewhat of a mentor to push this experience on them. A huge congrats to you both, you should be so proud!”
Collins Hume played a significant role as gold sponsors of the event, alongside Headroom Hair and Curves Ballina. The Collins Hume team turned out in force to support Chris, joined by his wife and daughters, celebrating a remarkable performance and fundraising achievement.
Donations are still being accepted for this incredible cause. To contribute, visit Chris Atkinson’s fundraising page.
The evening was a resounding success, with the Ballina RSL providing the perfect backdrop for an event that blended joy, creativity and a heartfelt commitment to making a difference. Congratulations to all the Stars of Ballina for their spectacular performances and for raising funds to support vital cancer research and services! For more details, visit Stars of Ballina and @maree_white_dance.
Comments