One day in March 2005, I went to my first after-school samba drumming class with União da Mocidade (UDM). Little did I know that by the end of that summer, I would have paraded around the streets of London and beyond. It changed my life. That summer, I made lifelong friends, and started a whirlwind affair with samba that shows no signs of dying down.

UDM is a London-based project founded in 2004 by musicians Tamara Arom- Hobbs and Iian Pattinson, to teach Rio-style samba to teenagers aged 12-18. Every summer, we take to the streets, drumming in carnivals, festivals and parades including the British Summertime Festival, the Mayor's Thames Festival, Cowley Road Carnival (Oxford), The Scoop, the Lambeth Country Show and more. Here are some highlights from our 2017 gig season:

Thanks to Tammy, Iian and UDM, so many of us have been opened to the wonderful world of UK Samba and drummed nationally and internationally. Now I’m giving back – with your help! – by running the Westminster British 10K and raising money for UDM.

Your super-kind donations will cover: materials for our hand-made costumes (made in Tammy and Iian’s living room!) , upkeep of the drums we bang with pride and transport to get us to more gigs and spread the UDM love.

UDM is an Arts Council-funded organisation, but also depends on the voluntary time from alumni and other members of the community to get together and create the amazing work we do every year. It's been a while since my last 10k, so I'm terrified but know that I'm doing this for something I love and cherish. I hope you can join me in showcasing some of London's most talented percussionists.