I discovered wheelchair dance a couple of years ago having had to stop dancing when I was younger due to my disability.

Since then I, along with my dance partner, Lauren, have competed in dance competitions and even alongside able bodied dancers as well. Lauren dances on foot with me in the chair.

Unfortunately after spending a lot of money on a new wheelchair (with the help of very generous people!) a few months into my training, I realised it wasn't actually appropriate for what I would be doing in my routines. We progressed faster than we expected and I ended up borrowing my dance teacher's chair in order to continue the sport. The chair I got help to buy has been used ever since as a day chair to get me out and about and has given me much more independence so was definitely worth the money!

I can no longer borrow my dance teacher's chair and the chairs available to borrow are not well suited to me in size etc. a wheelchair is an extension of the person so it really needs to fit well to be comfortable and to have optimum control of it.

In addition, I have been very poorly recently and have lost a lot of the muscle I had built up so will struggle a lot in a chair not suited to me. I need to get back to dancing to get fit again after several invasive surgeries and a long time in bed.

Rediscovering dance has given me such a boost and I absolutely love it, it also gives me the chance to exercise and I found that I quickly became much fitter and felt much better, less plagued by fatigue etc. after starting dancing.

A new chair will cost around £2,000 and it would take me forever to save up that money! I have entered a target of £1,000 because it will go a huge way towards funding the chair and I aim to find other ways of raising the money other than crowd funding.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I appreciate any contribution - it all helps!

Keeeeep dancing!!