Strictly's Amy Dowden supported by Pasha Kovalev in touching tribute dance

03 October 2023 , 18:03

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Strictly's Amy Dowden supported by Pasha Kovalev in touching tribute dance

Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha Kovalev supported his friend Amy Dowden in a touching tribute today.

Amy, 33, who is a much-loved dancer on the BBC show, is being treated for stage 3 cancer after finding a lump in her breast in June. The Welsh star underwent her fifth round of chemotherapy on Thursday after shaving her head last week and now Pasha has joined his pal in raising awareness about the disease.

Leading a pink dance class in support of Breast Cancer Now’s Wear It Pink campaign, the husband of Countdown's Rachel Riley, donned his brightest pink blazer for a Cha Cha Cha class with breast cancer campaigner Emma Campbell. Speaking about the importance of the campaign, he said: “I’m so excited to be dancing in pink for such a fantastic cause. And more importantly, dancing with a very special person."

Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha Kovalev supported his friend Amy Dowden in a touching tribute

Emma has been living with secondary, incurable breast cancer since 2014 and shared a love of dance with her friend Dame Deborah James, who died from bowel cancer last year.

Pasha continued: “Sadly, most of us will know someone who’s been affected by breast cancer. One of the Strictly family is going through it right now, and I have so much respect for Amy and everything she’s doing to raise awareness of the disease. It feels only right that I show my support too, by hitting the dance floor with the wonderful Emma Campbell for Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink in October.

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The dancer said Emma Campbell was a 'natural' at the Cha Cha Cha

"It was a pleasure to dance with Emma – and she gave me real insight around what it’s like to live with incurable, secondary breast cancer. We had a wonderful afternoon together learning the cha-cha-cha. She’s a natural!"

Speaking about her experience dancing with the Strictly star, Emma said: “I think it’s fantastic that he’s using his talent to raise awareness of wear it pink, and the life-changing breast cancer research and support that it funds. When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, I was a single mum to newborn triplets and my 7-year-old. Since then, my breast cancer has returned twice and while it can be treated it will never be cured, so I know just how vital Breast Cancer Now’s work is."

Amy has shaved her head as she undergoes treatment (INSTAGRAM)

The Welsh star has undergone five rounds of chemotherapy (Instagram/ @amy_dowden)

Strictly star Amy has had to take a break from the Strictly while she undergoes her cancer treatment, but was in the studio with the professional dancers on Sunday. Sharing snaps of her pals backstage, the Welsh wonder said: “There’s no text book or right/wrong way to deal with your cancer journey. Everyone deals with it rightly their way. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by so much support which I don’t take for granted and days like here is what keeps me going. I’m dreaming every night of dancing on that floor again but right now I’m my fellow pro’s proudest and biggest cheerleader.”

Victoria Johns