Sponsor Aquatic Therapy for Mexican Children

Over the past few months, we have been reminded once again that fundraising is about so much more than raising money.

It is about people choosing to give their time, energy, creativity and enthusiasm to help others.

It is about two friends taking on the challenge of running a marathon. Children spending their summer baking cakes. A restaurant opening its doors for an evening of food, friendship and fundraising. And it is about the many people who donate, share, encourage and support these efforts along the way.

For Therapies Unite, every one of these contributions helps us continue providing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in Mexico — including access to our aquatic therapy program.

Earlier this year, friends Sarah and Kate took on one of the biggest challenges of their lives: the 2026 London Marathon.

Together, they raised an incredible £4,354 for Therapies Unite.

For Kate, the decision to run was partly about the experience and the excitement of taking on a marathon with Sarah, but also about the opportunity to support a great cause.

Having lived in Mexico, Kate wanted to give something back to the people and country that had shown her so much warmth and kindness.

“Whilst I may never meet the people that benefit from the money raised, the people of Mexico were so warm and kind to me when I lived there, so it was a great opportunity to give back.”

For Sarah, the marathon was an opportunity to challenge herself alongside her favourite running buddy while raising money for an amazing cause.

Training for the marathon also made her reflect on how fortunate we can be to have our health and physical abilities, and she hoped the money raised would help people in Mexico make progress towards their own physical goals.

But the marathon wasn’t just about the two people who ran it.

It became a community effort.

Friends and family joined them on training runs, people sent messages of encouragement during early morning sessions, and supporters donated to their fundraising campaign.

Kate described the support as creating “a real sense of community and people coming together.”

Sarah said:

“I honestly can’t thank people enough for their support… all the lovely people who donated to such a worthy cause. You’re all amazing and I couldn’t have done it without you.”

And that is exactly what fundraising is about. One person’s challenge becomes an opportunity for someone else.

Our annual charity curry night organised by Gaynor and Paul Barrow is another wonderful example of what can happen when a community comes together.

Hosted by Alessi Dining in Audley, Staffordshire, this year’s event marked the third year that the team has opened its doors in support of Therapies Unite.

An incredible 76 diners joined us for a special evening of food, friendship, laughter and fundraising. Together, the event raised an amazing £1,205 for Therapies Unite.

Alessi Dining generously donates 50% of the ticket price from every meal directly to Therapies Unite, helping us continue our work supporting children and adults through therapy. 

The evening also featured a charity raffle, giving guests another opportunity to support our work.

We are incredibly grateful to the whole team at Alessi Dining for their continued generosity, as well as everyone who attended, donated raffle prizes, bought raffle tickets and helped make the evening such a success.

Thank you to every single person who played a part.

One of the lovely fundraising stories of recent months came from a group of young people in Worcester.

Eight-year-old Nayelli, together with her friends Ada, Dilys, Luuk and Ella, decided to spend part of their summer holidays organising a community bake sale.

Their original fundraising target was £100 — but thanks to the incredible generosity of their local community, they raised an amazing £305.

The children baked cakes, welcomed customers and encouraged donations, all because they wanted to do something to help children who don’t have the same opportunities as them.

Their fundraising will help provide swimming lessons for children with disabilities in Mexico, supporting physical development, confidence and wellbeing.

We are incredibly proud of them and so grateful to everyone in their community who supported their wonderful idea.

It is a beautiful reminder that fundraising can start at any age, and that even a small idea can make a very big difference.

Behind every fundraising total is an opportunity.

For Therapies Unite, fundraising is essential because it helps us continue to provide access to therapies and activities that can make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

Aquatic therapy is a particularly important part of this work.

The water can provide a supportive environment in which children can work towards physical goals, develop their movement and strength, build confidence and experience the enjoyment and freedom that being in the water can bring.

For some children, accessing these opportunities would simply not be possible without charitable support.

That’s why every pound raised matters.

£4,354 from Sarah and Kate.

£1,205 from our annual curry night.

£305 from a group of young bakers.

That’s an incredible £5,864 raised through three very different fundraising efforts — all helping to create opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in Mexico.

They may look like very different fundraising efforts, but they have something important in common:

To Sarah and Kate, thank you for taking on an incredible challenge and raising an amazing £4,354.

To Nayelli, Ada, Dilys, Luuk and Ella, thank you for showing us that you are never too young to make a difference and to Kath for all your hard work and support. 

To Alessi Dining, thank you for opening your doors to Therapies Unite for a third year and for your incredible generosity.

To Gaynor and Paul Barrow, thank you for your support and for helping bring people together through fundraising.

And to every single person who has donated, shared a fundraising page, bought a raffle ticket, attended an event, bought a cake, encouraged a fundraiser or simply helped spread the word — thank you.

We truly couldn’t do this without you.

Your support doesn’t just raise money.

It helps us provide aquatic therapy and swimming opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in Mexico — helping them work towards their own physical goals, build confidence, develop independence and, most importantly, enjoy experiences that every child should have the chance to enjoy.

Every fundraiser. Every donation. Every act of kindness. Together, they make a difference.

And we are so grateful to every single person who has been part of that journey.