By Lyn Funnell 
Tunbridge Wells, Kent, June 2025… “Hi. I am Ross. I am 33 years old, I have cerebral palsy and have spent most of my life in a wheelchair. Yet this has never held me back and it never will. I’ve climbed a mountain in Wales, scuba dived, gone sailing, ice skating, caught sharks in Florida, driven vans and lorries, I play golf, I have three jobs and live a pretty full life… sometimes on the edge.
“But…I am always looking for new and exciting challenges.
“I have always been keen to help others and, this year, I have decided to start a fundraising campaign called ‘if I can, anyone can’. This is where I will set myself challenges that would be a little daunting for an able bodied person but a little more difficult for someone with my range of disabilities.
“My first challenge will be the 13 Bridges Challenge, on Saturday 28th June 2025, where I will attempt a 10-mile course, crossing 13 bridges starting at Tower Bridge and ending at Battersea Bridge. This is being organised by the amazing SSAFA, the armed forces charity, which I have supported for many years.
“In addition, I will also be raising money for This Is Us Community Interest Company, that I am an ambassador for. They are a Kent-based organisation, doing incredible work with children and young people with a range of disabilities.”
Dance Teacher Hannah Rotchell says: “Ross is an asset to This Is Us. He supports us at all of our community events, by hosting and running our music. He is always so welcoming to new dancers and their families. Ross lights up a room and is an inspiration – he never stops, and we are honoured that he has decided to fundraise for This Is Us as part of his new campaign If I can, anyone can. Ross – you are going to be amazing, you have the whole team behind you!”
Ross Bowie adds: “This Is Us have helped me be proud to be me. I am now doing this challenge to show others what is possible. Yes, it is going to be a challenge, but let’s rock and roll”
Let’s get our wider community behind helping Ross, to help great causes.
To donate, please visit Ross’s Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ross-bowie
Every donation helps Ross take another big stride forwards.
About This Is Us:
This Is Us Dance have been running for almost 10 years and are proud to have two Junior Groups, a Youth Group and Post 16’s Performance Company that meet on a weekly basis in Tunbridge Wells. As well as this, they run CPD sessions, workshops, events, 1:1 classes and conduct regular visits to SEND schools for creative movement sessions within the school day. All of this gives individuals an outlet to express themselves in a different way.
This Is Us Dance proudly runs in association with Stopgap Dance Company – a world leader in Inclusive Dance – as one of their IRIS Dance Syllabus groups. Stopgap developed IRIS, (Include, Respond, Integrate and Specialise) as a framework to develop aspiring disabled dancers, enabling them to work towards an end goal, as well as develop their movement and social skills through the ethos of Inclusion and Rigour.
Further information about the classes and opportunities on offer by This Is Us Dance can be found at www.thisisusdance.co.uk
