Read Dance and Theatre Company dance for Meningitis Research Foundation
05 January 2010
On Friday 8 January 2010, Read Dance and Theatre Company’s adult group will be putting on a dance extravaganza at Northcroft Leisure Centre, Newbury, to raise money for an Arctic Husky Challenge being undertaken by one of the dancer’s husbands in aid of the Meningitis Research Foundation.
The dancers are being sponsored to dance non-stop for two hours, and will perform their repertoire of street jazz numbers from 6.30pm-8.30pm at Northcroft Leisure Centre. Leisure Centre users are invited to come along and watch, donate money and join in!
The Arctic Husky Challenge itself will take place in April and will involve Steve Cullen, from Burghfield, trekking 250km journey across Northern Norway and Sweden over seven days, in temperatures as low as -20°C, whilst being in charge of his own pack of dogs. All money raised as part of this challenge will go to the Meningitis Research Foundation, a charity close to the Cullen family’s heart.
Steve’s daughter, Georgia contracted pneumococcal meningitis when she was 15 months old. After two weeks in hospital, including three days in the children’s Intensive Care Unit, Georgia was allowed home. As a result of meningitis, she had to learn how to sit, stand and walk all over again. The main impact of the meningitis was that Georgia was left profoundly deaf. Despite this she has grown into a happy, extrovert four year old.
“Georgia’s development wouldn’t have been possible without the fantastic support from charities and health professionals alike. I feel that the least we can do is to try and help the charities that helped us. By supporting the Meningitis Research Foundation we hope that we can contribute to the eradication of meningitis, and help prevent other families suffering the effects of this illness,” said Dad, Steve.
Read Dance and Theatre’s children’s theatre school will also be raising money for Steve’s MRF Arctic Challenge this Saturday by paying £2 each to dress up as their favourite musical theatre character for the day.
Meningitis Research Foundation estimates that there are around 3,500 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia every year in the UK and Republic of Ireland. This means that every day nine people become ill with the diseases. With one in ten people dying, a death will occur almost every day. A further two people will be left with life-altering after effects as severe as brain damage, deafness and multiple amputations.
You can sponsor Steve directly by visiting:
http://www.justgiving.com/steve-on-a-sled.
For more information about Read Dance and Theatre and the range of children and adult classes on offer, visit:
http://www.readdanceandtheatre.co.uk/index.html
To arrange photos or interviews, please contact: Christina Cullen on 07985 440 238 or Neil Hardman (MRF) 01454 281811