Council bosses have agreed to refund Cancer Research UK after volunteers were charged £30 to use electricity for a 15-minute flash-mob.
The charity performed the Zumba flash-mob along with Gaby Reeve and her team of dancers last Sunday on Ipswich’s Cornhill to promote the Race for Life happening in June.
The event raised £34.37 from crowd donations, however, Gill Burgess, Cancer Research UK events manager, was asked to pay £30 in cash on the day to cover the cost of powering an iPod and speakers.
Mrs Burgess phoned a member of Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) the next day, who agreed to refund the money.
“We are really grateful to IBC for their support,” Mrs Burgess said. “Charity budgets are notoriously small because we prioritise money for research to help cure cancer.
“It’s harder and harder to get things free of charge or discounted, so many organisations, especially councils, have to cover their costs and we appreciate that.”
She said when the charity was able to get services free of charge, it meant more money could be put back into cancer research.
A borough council spokesman said the charity was not asked to pay the £50 charge to hire the Cornhill, and council workers also donated their time to help on the day.
He added: “We waived the fee for the hire of the forecourt and also sent the money back for setting up and use of power at the flash-mob as we wanted to show our support for this great event.”
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