About

Hi, I'm Sarah, Assistant Producer at Pavilion Dance South West. I help support programmes that make such a difference to peoples lives through dance. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and taking part in the Supernova 5k run in Bournemouth in October to raise money for two of our wellbeing programmes - Parkinson's Dance and Grove to improve. These two programmes are incredible and for more than 14 years, our Parkinson's Dance programme has brought people living with Parkinson's, and their loved ones, together every Friday afternoon. Through movement, creativity, music and laughter, people have opportunity to build confidence, stay active and feel connected. Our other programme Grove to Improve supports people living with persistent lower back pain. It's a gentle creative dance programme that helps people move with greater confidence, develop sustainable movement habits and reconnect with what their bodies can do. As a charity, we rely on generosity of our community to keep this work going. Funding helps subsidise these programmes and makes them more accessible to the people who need them. This is a really BIG challenge for me because I am living will several very challenging medical conditions myself that I battle with daily. Fibromyalgia, endometriosis, permanent neck, back and pelvis damage from a car accident, damaged disc pressing on nerve in my back and recently ear damage from a flight this year causing constant tinnitus and balance vertigo. I know first hand the importance of keeping active and how these classes make such a difference to people and their wellbeing. Anyone who knows me well knows I am a very determined woman who refuses to let these conditions stop me, despite them making me feel terribly ill and in pain majority of the time. Please all get behind me and support something I am so passionate about. Lets get the funds to support these amazing 2 programmes and knowing I've helped make a difference to others will make this challenge worth it. It may take me a while to get to that finishing line, but I shall do it! Bring it on!