By his own admission he’s as country as the line dance and as vibrant as the Cha Cha. And it would seem our very own country bumpkin doesn’t mind holding himself up for ridicule. Ever since Andrew Pearson signed up to dance with the stars – oh that’s right, he’s one of the stars – he’s copped a beating.

Twinkle toes we call him. Yes, our award-winning journalist – more affectionately known as coffee boy – is about to dress up in sequins and shake his tail feather.

Being supportive colleagues, we want input into Drew’s act. ‘’It’s Raining Men’’ is the perfect fit, we suggested, or ‘’Saturday Night Fever’’. But Drew is unperturbed. He’s a man on his mission – refusing to reveal his chosen tune before the June 3 event.

He takes his Friday morning dance lessons as seriously as his next front-page story, and he doesn’t flinch when a colleague hides his fresh-face on his promotional poster behind a mask from Silence of the Lambs.

Yes our Drew has copped a flogging. But the day he popped up on Facebook dressed like Steve Irwin holding a kangaroo, was the day we couldn’t find the words. His tanned extra-long arms, newly chiseled face and peroxided locks were just too much to bear.

But in true country-bred Drew spirit, our dancing star laughed along with us. He let us chuckle at his expense, took the Facebook pokes in his twinkle-toed stride. Our Drew has shown us that being as country as a line dance means you don’t take yourself too seriously. And you be the butt of jokes and step out of your comfort zone for a cause dear to your heart.

This man originally from Hay is promising his new hometown plenty of laughs and is hoping old friends from out west clap along too. “I’m not a dancer but I’m willing to give it a go, and my sense of humour should work in my favour,” he says. And yep, he’s got no choice but to laugh. Because we will too.  Donate at https://starsofwollongong2017.everydayhero.com/au/andrew-pearson Everyone who donates will go into the draw to win two tickets to Elton John’s Wollongong show.