INNISFAIL – Duane Daines doesn’t back down from a challenge.The 59-year-old former pro-rodeo cowboy is participating in the 2018 Sheraton Celebrity Dance Off in Red Deer April 14.
"I haven’t danced in 22 years. This is new to me but I’m helping out,” said Daines. "We’re giving back to raise a little money for the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.”
Daines, an Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee, said he is looking forward to the challenge and supporting a good cause.
"All the dancers have professional dance instructors with them,” said Daines, noting his dance partner Natalie Brooks. "I think she wanted a challenge and I was up for it too. We’re going to do our best.
"We’re all there to raise a lot of money and support the Canada Winter Games.”
There are eight celebrity dancers in this year’s event, including former Olympians Carla Macleod and Mellisa Hollingsworth, and honorary co-chair of the 2019 Canada Winter Games, Cari MacLean.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards funding the Canada Games Celebration Plaza.
"They’ve (held) really good events and made a lot of money for charities over the years with the Sheraton Celebrity Dance Off,” said Daines.
He and dance partner Natalie Brooks have been preparing for the fundraiser over the past several months and have received support from the community, friends and family members.
In September 1995 at the young age of 37, Daines’ life changed forever when he was in a rodeo accident.
Today he lives with a spinal cord injury.
"I had a horse flip over in the chute. I was a professional bronc rider,” he said. "It was a fluky accident but it changed my life.”
That hasn’t stopped Daines from leading a fulfiling life.
He hopes to be an inspiration to others with his participation in the Sheraton Celebrity Dance Off.
"It’s so important for the young athletes. It’s going to be a big day for them,” he said of the events in the 2019 Canada Winter Games. "It’s good for Red Deer and the legacy that’s left behind too.”
"If I can help one young person that’s faced a little adversity or an injury, (and show) you can get out and do what you want to do,” said Daines.
"That’s how I’ve lived my life too. You have an injury, it changes your life upside down but it never changes the person inside of you.”
Duane Daines, celebrity dancer
"That's how I've lived my life too. You have an injury, it changes your life upside down but it never changes the person inside of you."
