Teegan steps out to keep charity dancing
ATEENAGER with a life-long love of dancing is fundraising for charity this summer, despite having undergone a major spine operation recently.
Fifteen-year-old Teegan Chilton has had surgery to correct scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, and now, just three months later, is putting her dancing shoes back on in aid of Accrington-based charity DanceSyndrome.
Teegan will be fundraising for the multi-award winning dance charity’s “We like to Move It Move It” campaign which encourages people to stay active during the pandemic and turn their movement or exercise into a fundraising activity.
DanceSyndrome delivers inclusive dance workshops and dance leadership training, as well as inspiring performances that demonstrate a focus on ability rather than disability.
The charity was founded by Jen Blackwell, who happens to have Down’s syndrome, because she found it difficult to find opportunities in community dance due to her disability.
DanceSyndrome’s ethos is that disability should never be a barrier to following your dreams.
Teegan, from Barley, has taken part in dance classes since she was able to crawl. She has done many different styles of dancing and has competed as a solo performer in several competitions.
It is because dance has been such a big part of her life, and because she understands the positive impact that dance can have on a person’s wellbeing, that
Teegan decided to support DanceSyndrome’s fundraising, despite her own health challenges.
DanceSyndrome Managing Director Dawn Vickers said: “Teegan is an incredible person and we have been so proud to have her on our fundraising team!
“Her strength and determination is a reflection of what we often see in our Dance Leaders so we were thrilled that she chose DanceSyndrome to benefit from her fundraiser.
“Her fundraising will make a real difference to our charity at a challenging time when we are having to frequently adapt to the changing COVID regulations. We’ve just returned to indoor dance and we couldn’t have done that without the support of fundraisers like Teegan!”
If you would like to support them, please visit JustGiving.com search for We Like to Move It, Move It and find the fundraising page under Campaigns.