Hello... I'm Peter McLoughlin...thanks for looking at my This Is Us Youth Dance Company (TIU) fund raising page!
I'm one of the founders and volunteer director of TIU, but more importantly, I'm the dad of one of the first members of the group - Anja.
On the weekend of September 11/12, I am going to be tackling the Thames Path Challenge - 100km (62 miles) from Putney in London to Henley on Thames. Just to make things slightly more challenging, I've opted for the through the night, non-stop option. So in summary. long walk. no sleep, sore feet - but all for an amazing cause.
TIU (www.thisisusdance.co.uk) is an inclusive dance company based in west Kent that was born to fill the need for more extra-curricular activities for children with different needs. We have young dancers with complex physical and developmental needs through to children who have joined simply to share the fun, to an army of volunteers who often say that they think get as much from the group as the children.
From small beginnings, we've now grown to two groups, and to the point where we provide outreach classes to other special needs clubs and schools. Unfortunately the pandemic has seen challenges in raising funds at a time when we've needed it most. Having personal experience of the challenges involved in finding the right type of activity and club for children like Anja, it's hugely important to me to ensure I do what I can to to support TIU. In a world where children with differences can struggle to find their space, TIU allows them to be included and to belong - so every £1 raised will help us to continue to support these wonderful children...
In the words of Verna Myers "Diversity is being invited to the party; but Inclusion is being asked to dance."
Any donation will help ensure that we keep creating opportunities to be included and to dance!
Thank you - any support means an incredible amount to me, my family and the TIU team.
