Sugababes star teams with Olympian for charity initiative

Greg Miles Monday, May 6, 2013
8:00 AM

Jade Ewen and Louis Smith MBE at the launch of Zumba Fitness' global charity initiative. Picture by Matt Crossick.


Jade Ewen and Louis Smith work with Zumba Fitness and United Nations World Food Programme.


Folkestone’s very own Sugababe Jade Ewen has launched a new Zumba-based fitness initiative with the help of Olympic gymnast Louis Smith.
With Zumba Fitness, the creators of the original zumba dance company, Ewen has launched the Great Calorie Drive, aimed at helping people get fit while donating money to charity at the same time.
Working with the United Nations World Food Programme they are urging those attending Zumba classes to donate the number of calories burned to WFP through its free phone app.
Ewen said: “This campaign really does give the world a reason to dance. It was brilliant to hit the dance floor with Louis and shake and shimmy off 750 calories for The Great Calorie Drive launch at Pacha nightclub.
“Zumba classes are such a fun way to keep fit with friends, it feels like exercise in disguise. It’s such a simple idea but if enough people check into their local Zumba class, it can make a real difference to so many people.”
Smith MBE added: “I’m proud to have been a part of the launch of The Great Calorie Drive with Zumba Fitness. Hunger is still a big issue – not only on a global level – but also in our own country. I love the unique idea of donating your calories through dance and that’s just what Zumba Fitness is doing. Over the next three months they are donating the equivalent of 3.5 million meals to the World Food Programme, which will make a huge difference.”
To learn more about The Great Calorie Drive, visit www.greatcaloriedrive.com. For additional information about the World Food Programme please visit www.wfp.org