Sheffield-based circus group celebrates 25th anniversary with ‘circusathon’ to raise funds

A circus group in Sheffield is aiming to raise funds that will support the city’s most marginalized young people as part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations.
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Twenty-five years ago, Greentop established its circus centre in the former Saint Thomas’ Church in Brightside as part of the British reality programme ‘Challenge Anneka’, which first aired on BBC in 1989.

Now, a 12-hour, non-stop Circusathon on Sunday, May 9, will be the culmination of a fundraising challenge celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Greentop Community Circus Centre.

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The Circusathon, running between 9 am and 9 pm, will involve Youth Circus members and Greentop professionals in 25 different circus skills, including aerial trapeze, hoop and silks, unicycling, juggling, stilt-walking, acrobatics, diablo and tight-wire.

Greentop Circus announce their 25 th anniversary.  Picture: Chris EtchellsGreentop Circus announce their 25 th anniversary.  Picture: Chris Etchells
Greentop Circus announce their 25 th anniversary. Picture: Chris Etchells

Even though the Circusathon has limited numbers participating due to Covid-19 restrictions, Greentop invites anyone interested in circus to ‘step into the ring’ and try one of the challenges at home or to make a donation via their JustGiving campaign page.

There are challenges for all the family, including balancing a feather on your nose for 25 seconds, balancing 25 objects on someone else, stilt-walking 25 laps of your garden or creating your own challenge.

To kick off the fundraising challenges, unicyclists and stilt walkers travelled 2.5 miles from the Peace Gardens to Greentop’s Circus Centre in Brightside on Friday, May 7.

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The ‘Greentop25Challenge’ aims to raise at least £2,500 of funds to provide circus skills sessions for some of Sheffield’s most marginalized young people to support their physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

To kick off the fundraising challenges, on Friday 7 th May unicyclists and stilt walkers travelled the 2.5 miles from the Peace Gardens to Greentop's Circus Centre in Brightside. Pictured are Tim Byron, Trudi Patient, Richard Gillett and Teo Greenstreet. Picture: Chris EtchellsTo kick off the fundraising challenges, on Friday 7 th May unicyclists and stilt walkers travelled the 2.5 miles from the Peace Gardens to Greentop's Circus Centre in Brightside. Pictured are Tim Byron, Trudi Patient, Richard Gillett and Teo Greenstreet. Picture: Chris Etchells
To kick off the fundraising challenges, on Friday 7 th May unicyclists and stilt walkers travelled the 2.5 miles from the Peace Gardens to Greentop's Circus Centre in Brightside. Pictured are Tim Byron, Trudi Patient, Richard Gillett and Teo Greenstreet. Picture: Chris Etchells

The arts education charity is the north of England’s leading circus centre providing training for professional circus artists alongside classes and courses for adults and young people and tailor-made workshops and events for schools, communities and businesses.

Through its charitable, social circus activities, Greentop has become a focal point for the local community, empowering 1000s of young people to express their individuality, be creative, improve their fitness and have fun.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, starting at 2 pm, aerialists will unveil Greentop’s new brand identity and swoop from the trapeze to cut a celebration cake.

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The rebrand has been made possible by leading Sheffield creative agency Born and Raised, event photographer Ian Spooner and web designer David Broad.

To donate funds, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/greentop25challenge

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