Rhys Black has claimed the title of NBS Dancing for a Cause 2025 champion.
Ten contestants battled it out over two nights of performances at the Trafalgar Centre that saw thousands of spectators filter through the doors all in the name of raising money for Nelson Tasman Hospice.
Together the contestants raised more than $500,000, with a total tally from the event itself still to come.
Rhys, who took to the floor with dance partner Rebecca Higham, had issued a cheeky challenge to his wife Hazel, who has been one of the professional Dancing for a Cause dancers since 2020 - "may the best Black win".
Hazel, and her 2023 partner Ryan Edwards took out the top spot in 2023, so the 2025 event was to be, what Rhys termed "a modern day dance David vs Goliath event".
And after two epic performances, Rhys managed to take home bragging rights for the Black household.
Fellow contestant, and Hazel's dance partner Blair Cameron had previously told Nelson App that Rhys was the one to beat, as he had the best banter of the group.
Sport Tasman chief executive Ed Shuttleworth and his dance partner Brooke Silke-Atkins were named People's Choice winners on Friday evening, but the champion score was tallied up over the performances on both Friday and Saturday.
Jayde Howe managed to raise the most out of all the contestants coming in with a whopping $250,660.
