One of Our Own
Last week, I received back the interview I’m doing with KT Coates of Vertical Dance. The interview will post later this summer, but KT wrote of something I had not been aware of; something too important to leave waiting.
In her words:
On the night of 12th December 2009 one of the most horrifying, freak accidents occurred which changed the life of one of one of our pole sisters forever. Debs was performing a cross ankle release, which she had done many times before, when, without warning or shouts for help, she fell from the pole, twisting her spinal cord and as a result has been left paralyzed.
This is something very close to home for the pole industry and could have happened to any one of us, and it has really affected me, so this year we have donated the money raised from the pole unity auction to Debbie Plowmans Happy Faces Trust. I am also looking to climb Kilimanjaro some time at the end of this year, beginning of next year and I am looking for a company to help fund the trip, and companies and individuals to sponsor me. We are also looking for others to join us on the climb to help raise money, so please email me at info@verticaldance.com for more information.
Also, on the 12th September, there will be a charity pole-a-thon to help raise as much money as we can. Please contact Nannette at nanandkids@hotmail.co.uk for more information on that, and, if you are thinking of doing something for charity, this would be a fantastic cause that would make someone’s life a little easier.
That’s all I want to leave you with today, a call for support for one of our own. Please forward to spread the word – let’s do all we can for Debbie and let her know she’s in our hearts!
[...] by the story of Debbie Plowman, Ken wanted to use his professional experience in safety and risk management to promote safety on [...]
Hi Marguerite I have just sent an e mail to a lady called Diane, I think it may be the same person. I look forward to hearing what you are putting together. Thank you so much x x
Marguerite that is so wonderful thats so much!
My good friend and pole dancer Diane told me about this story. It is so scary and sad, and it is scary because it can happen to any one of us.
Diane brought up the idea of having a benefit that she and I would hold together to help raise money for her. So we are in the stages of planning it and will send the details your way.
[...] one another out. Right now, there are TWO pole dancing events in the works to lend a hand to Debbie Plowman, who was paralyzed last December falling from a pole. Read on for details on how you can [...]
Hi everyone thank you so much for your support of Debs and her family. I have been speaking to her husband today about how to get funds into the account and we think the best way is going to be a ‘Just Giving’ site which I should have done by the end of this weekend. People will then be able to donate the money straight into that account.
I will have the info sorted by the end of the week for the pole a thon also so if people are interested they can contact me via my e mail.
If people could send me through some photos of their events that wud be fantastic as Debs would love to see them and I can show her from my laptop.
Thank you once again for all of your best wishes I will pass them all on to Debs
Nanette
chowsr they money is going towards any thing that debbie needs in order to make her life better. She is currently on a ventilator as she can not breath un aided, she can not speak and can only comunicate by blinking. To make matters worse she is not in a hospital near her home and she has a baby of 2 and one of 5.
wShe has a bend in her spinal cord and not a total sever, which means that its possible she may regain function of her body, but it all depends on keeping her motivated.
if any one is interested in joining our pole to peak climb we would love to have you, we plan to pole dance at the top. thanks for all of your kind words!
Sounds great, Joel – thank you!
OK, I sent an e-mail to Nan and asked about Pay Pal donations…will send one along as soon as she responds with a receiving account….
Joel
Jennifer, I couldn’t get that link to work. But I am DEFINITELY on board for any fundraiser and will be happy to send along a contribution. Please feel free to forward me any information–especially a pay pal link–I’ve already got an account set-up for on-line pole related stuff.
This is such an awful thing to hear. I’m always worried about injury and try to make sure I’m careful and focused on what I am doing. And pole is not my only high risk activity, as I have been hit twice by cars while bike riding. So far I’ve been lucky to escape with just cuts and bruises.
Thoughts and prayers for Deb and her family…with deepest concern,
Joel Lessing
@Fern – hope your circus trainer is helped by the surgery!
How awful for poor Debs. A co-worker of a circus friend of mine has recently had some similar to him.
He is flying trapeze artist, and was catching a flying trapeze student. It seems that when she caught onto him, she was not holding her weight or posture in an appropriate way, and it put too much pressure on the teacher’s back, and as a result he is now completely paralyzed.
He’s had an operation and we’re still waiting to hear the results and his chances of recovery.
On top of losing all his mobilty, the flying trapeze school was his business and entire income for his family. What an awful tragedy… both for Debs and for this man!
That’s terrible.
What exactly is the money raised going toward?
To help out I’d like to do a distance Body Talk treatment for her if she’s open to it. Given the description of the accident there’s a lot of underlying issues that need to be addressed.
c