Clubbing for Kosovo

Slogan: "Disco dancing. Can save lives"

This weekend clubbers across the UK are proving they are interested in more than just beats per minute by raising money for Kosovo.

Under the slogan "Disco dancing. Can save lives", Internet broadcaster Club 247 has joined up with dance clubs across the country for an entire fundraising weekend.

Organiser Stuart Kidd, Club 247's director, says he hopes the event will raise at least £10,000 for the Kosovo Crisis Appeal, part of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).

He told BBC News Online that this is the first time he had been moved to organise such an event.

Gay nightclub Trade is joining in fundraising

"I got the idea after speaking to friends from Kosovo, who were into clubbing and being touched by pictures of the refugees on television," he said.

He expects a good response from clubbers - not famous for their political sensibilities - as the Kosovo crisis has "touched everybody".

"Everybody's seen the pictures on TV of people losing their houses, their possessions," said Mr Kidd.

"Everyone can understand what's going on and everyone wants to help".

5,000 clubbers

Running from Friday 23 April to Sunday 25 April, the fundraising charge is being led by clubs at London's Turnmills.

It started at The Gallery, a "hard house" club created by the brother of well-known DJ Tall Paul, on Friday night.

As is the legendary Southport Dance Weekender

This is been followed by Saturday night's Headstart, then Trade, one of London's most famous gay dance nights, from 4am until 1pm on Sunday, and then Melt, Turnmill's Sunday nighter.

Merseyside's Southport Dance Weekender, Cambridgeshire's LEL Club and London's The End are also collecting money throughout the weekend.

With 5,000 clubbers expected at the Southport event, and at least 1,000 per night at the other clubs, the £10,000 target would mean each clubber only has to put £1 into the collecting tins donated by Oxfam.

Website donations

If people miss the fundraising weekend, the Club 247 website is also taking donations for the next two weeks.

There are also forms to be downloaded so clubbers can get themselves "sponsored to dance".

The website is asking clubbers to demand that their favourite club across the UK participate in this event or stage fundraisers of their own.

Stuart's plans do not come to an end with the UK. A Kosovar friend who is now living in the United States is hoping to run a similar event in New York next weekend.