Hello and thank you for visiting my page!

Friday 6 September 2013 will be the 21 anniversary of my brain haemorrhage and resulting speech and language disability (aphasia).  Last year, on this date, I completed a 100km sponsored exercise bike ride in aid of Connect (the communication disability network) which took me over 4 hours.

This year I will be facing this challenge again and I have decided that I would like to support Nottingham Playhouse by raising money for their brilliant Playhouse 50:50 appeal.

I love coming to the Playhouse - I visit CAST most days and regularly see performances in the theatre.  It is a very special place.  For the last ten years I have felt like part of the community there, which really is so important to me as someone with a communication disability.

Through the Playhouse 50:50 appeal Nottingham Playhouse are fundraising to be able to give away 50 free tickets at each of 50 performances throughout 2013 – that’s 2,500 tickets in total!  These tickets are being donated to individuals, charities and community groups who haven’t been able to experience the joy of live theatre before.

So far the Playhouse has raised enough to fund nearly 600 of the 50:50 tickets.  These have been donated to some fantastic causes, including groups which provide accommodation and support for homeless and vulnerable people and charities providing refuge and support for women and children affected by domestic violence.

I used to work with people who were homeless and liaise with different housing organisations before my brain haemorrhage - it's such a great cause.  I also know that Nottingham Playhouse has a long tradition of supporting other hard to reach groups like people with disabilities – Playhouse 50:50 is just part of the great work that they do.

I will be doing my bike ride in CAST on the afternoon of Friday 6 September.  Do come and cheer me on!

Right, I should probably do some training!  Please do sponsor me on my bike ride and help me raise some money for a very special charity!

Thank you for your support

Cressida