The wheelchair dance sport association (WDSA) will be hosting a gala dinner in Stratford this month as it celebrates its 10th anniversary as a charitable organisation.
Patrick McGeough, CEO of WDSA UK, said the gala, which includes a three course meal, is a celebration of all the hard work they’ve undertaken in 10 years as a charity.
“When we first started in 2006 there were 4 groups and about 30 people involved. Now we have 40 groups, 70 instructors and 3,300 people taking part in our sessions.”
There are still a lot of barriers to the association and we still have a number of steps to climb but we are making headroom,” he said.
Mr McGeough, who became disabled in 1997 following multiple strokes, said that wheelchair dancing played an important part in his rehabilitation, both physically and mentally, and hopes it can play a key role in other peoples lives too.
“We have been working in the Newham area putting on engagement sessions, to show people the possibilities of what you can do in dance.”
Dance has usually been patterned around the creative and performance side. We want to show dance can be more sport focused and to get people more active in the community,” he said.
Rafhmi Becker, who recently became a patron of WDSA UK and will be performing at the gala, is excited by the prospect of working with the organisation.
“It’s a great time to come in when they’re celebrating their tenth anniversary, hopefully events like this can get more people to participate,” she said.
The WDSA UK will be holding the gala event at the Stratford Circus Arts Centre, in Theatre Square, and will provide live music and entertainment throughout the evening with acts such as Kav-Man from Britain’s Got Talent performing.
Tickets for the event, which takes place on Saturday June 25 from 6.30 pm to 11.30 pm, cost £42.
For more information visit wdsauk.co.uk/events/10th-anniversary-dinner/