Rio Ferdinand

Rio’s official facebook status confirming his future involvement with danceaid!

Wow – what a way to land a new patron!

In case you missed it; back on a quiet Wednesday afternoon in January 2013 one of our danceaid volunteers spotted Rio Ferdinand on the train… then things got a little bit crazy… and we ended up with a Premiership mega-star agreeing to help danceaid! There was a bit of a furore too as this fantastic story subsequently appeared in local, regional and national press and our CEO Laura was interviewed on several radio stations!

We’ve included links to a whole host of articles (below our version) so you can see just how big an impact Rio joining danceaid had.

This is the original story straight from the horse’s mouth:

The story made the National Press & London Press

Rio Ferdinand pledges to give poverty the boot after chance encounter with charity volunteer

Former England captain and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has pledged to help a volunteer-run charity this week after a chance encounter with one of its ambassadors on a train journey to Manchester.

danceaid volunteer Michelle Clarke was on the 14:20 train from London when she spotted the England player sat opposite her and sent a text to her friend Laura Wilson, founder and chief executive of the charity.

…as well as Regional Press such as Welwyn-Hatfield Times

A tweet sent to the footballer from the charity’s Twitter account informed him of his close proximity to Michelle encouraging him to talk to her and ask about danceaid’s work. He did so, eventually offering to help raise awareness of the charity’s work and do what he could to help save our lifesaving projects.

Working both in the UK and internationally danceaid helps orphaned, poor and disabled children by holding fundraisers and partnering with events that use the uplifting positivity of dance to make a difference.

Hoping to collaborate with the footballer danceaid feels that Rio’s mix of high profile and selfless deeds align with the charity’s work. To potentially have an internationally recognised ambassador outside of the dance world would highlight its causes and bring danceaid to a wider audience.

…Industry Press such as Third Sector…

Laura Wilson commented: “This literally means the world to us. Our ambassadors are primarily from the dance world. Rio is a universal star known the world over.”

Internationally danceaid’s work has helped children as far afield as the Philippines and Africa with the help of its hard working volunteers, loyal ambassadors and committed patrons.

Laura continues: “Some of the children we support on the rural Mozambican border of South Africa are already celebrating the news in the hope their hero might visit them one day!”

And Laura did several radio interviews too – seen here with ‘Comedy Dave’ Vitty

danceaid’s patrons include some of the UK’s leading dancers and choreographers including Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity, TV presenter and Team GB Paralympian basketball player Ade Adepitan MBE and street dance champions Flawless.

To kick off the New Year danceaid looks forward to adding another star to its extensive list of patrons prepared to turn suffering into smiles and give poverty the boot.