Liberate Dance will be hosting a 12-hour Dance-a-thon on Saturday 21st August to raise money for our wonderful founder, Vickie Simmonds.

To join us at the event get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/12hr-dance-a-thon-for-vickie-simmonds-tickets-162266037085

Overview

In October last year, Vickie developed sepsis and went into septic shock and is now living with four extremely rare and life-threatening illnesses and unfortunately the treatment for these is not funded by the NHS.

So far, Vickie's family have spent over £10,000 on all of her medical treatment. Due to the complexity of her situation, and the need for ongoing private medical treatment, the costs are only going to continue to increase. Her family have estimated they need to raise £20,000 for her treatment.

We miss Vickie so much! She's is the loveliest, kindest person and it's deeply unfair all the health issues that she's had to face! Please help her on her road to recovery by donating whatever you can! 💜

Liberate Dance Story

Vickie grew up with a passion for dance and performance until her health declined in her teens. She was later diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and in 2017, sustained a spinal cord injury, causing her to become a full-time wheelchair user.

Keeping fit was always really important to Vickie so she took up Wheelchair Basketball and Para Ice Hockey. But she always felt there was something missing: the creative outlet that dance had given her. After seeing The LA Rollettes (an all-wheelchair dance troupe founded by dancer Chelsie Hill) perform, she was overwhelmed by the desire to get dancing again.

Amanda and Vickie started spending time together in the studio. Together they explored how Vickie could begin to dance again. They wanted to use the wheelchair as a celebration of movement rather than an obstacle. They decided this was an opportunity to bring dance to all wheelchair users across the U.K in a more accessible way. In 2019, Liberate Dance was born. One year later, Vickie went on to win the prestigious Rising Star Award from One Dance UK.

Liberate Dance is the UK's first exclusively wheelchair-based dance company set up through the charity, Move Momentum.

The aim of Liberate is to make dance accessible for wheelchair users, celebrating the freedom and movement a wheelchair brings to people with physical disabilities.

Vickie has always had a smile on her face, inspiring those around her and spreading positivity everywhere she goes. Vickie strived to be a positive role model and advocate for wheelchair users and people living with disabilities across the country and around the world.

Vickie has been an inspiration to our students and many others, we miss her so much and can't wait to be dancing with her again!! 💜

Vickie's Story

To read Vickie's full story, including detailed information on her medical conditions, you can head to her main fundraising page here - https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/vickie-simmonds-sepsis-recovery