In June, we announced that our new major production Roller Coaster was set to premiere as part of Bleach* Festival on the Gold Coast. We also launched our first ever fundraising campaign, asking for support to raise a crucial $5,000 towards our community engagement and participation costs.
We are over the moon to announce that with the help of 29 individual donors, we have reached our target!
These donations have helped us to engage with, and inspire over 100 community roller skaters from around South East Queensland.
From skate park skaters to roller derby players, roller dance enthusiasts to artistic skaters, little kids and big kids – we were delighted to meet such an excellent and diverse group of skating humans; and have been so grateful with the warm community response to our fundraiser.
Community Bank Tugun, the City of Gold Coast’s Active and Healthy program, Fun Daze, Chuffed Skates and Cocobella also got on board, supporting us to deliver 24 free workshops, rehearsals and community engagement activities, in locations right across the Gold Coast.
There was lots of laughter, a few tears (in the best kind of way), only minimal stacks, many new friendships, improved skills and lifelong memories created as we came together to create an epic celebration of life on wheels.
“I just moved back to the Gold Coast after 14 years. After being away, I learnt the importance of community. I don’t have many friends left after getting sober so this really meant a lot to me and to feel connected and to be apart of something bigger.
Workshop participant from Burleigh Heads
In addition, our donors supported over 40 accessible tickets, to ensure that people experiencing hardship as well as youth groups and mental health allies and social workers were able to attend the show.
While unfortunately we couldn’t finish all of the planned performances due to rain, we hope you can see from this highlights video, and our community photos and feedback below just how positive the experience was for so many people!
As a not-for-profit, charitable organisation, support from donors and partners is vital to the delivery of these programs in the most accessible and inclusive way possible.
We would like to most sincerely thanks these amazing individual donors for helping us deliver this important artistic and community work –
Epicentre, Charlie Cush, Donna Orazio, Kuljit Singh, Nicole Beyer, Libby Lincoln, MyBookWorks, Andrew Burns, SCCM Consultancy Pty Ltd, Karleen Harrington, Bindi Green, Louise Bezzina, Heartfill Store, Christine Adams Guster, Olivia Chin, Laura Strange & Claudio Kirac, M Mcintyre, Jacqi Holloway, Ruth Savage, Ashleigh Wheeler, Alexandra Nash, Ian Quartermaine and several others who wish to remain anonymous.
“I feel really honoured to be a part of something so amazing. I lost my husband recently and this gave me my mojo back, I got to see that there is life after loss. The whole experience was such a gift – Thank you!!
Laura – workshop and show participant from Mt Tambourine
