Peterborough has yet another star set to hit our TV screens as war veteran Cassidy Little takes to the Strictly dancefloor for Comic Relief…
For the first time in its history, Strictly Come Dancing is throwing open the sparkly doors of its ballroom to the Great British public and Peterborough guy Cassidy Litttle is one of the lucky ones taking to that famous dancefloor!
Cassidy was chosen from thousands of nominations, and is one of six lucky people chosen to take part in their very own Strictly experience. Over the next few weeks, they will become completely immersed in all things Strictly and he’ll be partnered by professional star Natalie Lowe.
Each of the six contributors has been chosen for their tireless and selfless work which has helped change so many lives for the better.
Presented by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, episode one of The People’s Strictly For Comic Relief airs on February 25 and will focus on three contributors – our guy Cassidy Little, Heather Parsons and Michael Pattie. The programme will hear from Cassidy’s friends and family about why he deserves to take part.
Cassidy was born in Canada but lives in Peterborough where he was an Olympic Torch bearer when the torch relay came to the city in 2012.
He’s a former Royal Marine Medic who lost his right leg below the knee during a tour of Afghanistan in the summer of 2011 yet helped other Marines through rehab, despite his own injuries.
Major Steve McCulley, who spent over two years in rehab with Cassidy, stated: “Every single seriously injured service person goes through very dark periods and were it not for Cassidy, those dark periods would have been far longer and far harder for many to deal with, me included.”
And it wasn’t just Cassidy’s upbeat attitude that helped his colleagues – but his love of dance too! Previously an avid dancer -and with a degree in music and dance – Cassidy taught fellow Marine JJ Chalmers, how to Waltz whilst out in Afghanistan, so JJ could impress his fiancée at their first dance for their wedding. When Cassidy was being airlifted to Camp Bastian following the incident, JJ said Cassidy joked: “there go my dancing days!” – But how wrong he was!
Though Cassidy’s days of dancing at University may be over, it’s the Strictly ballroom that’s calling him now – and his fellow Marines can’t wait to see him. As Major Steve McCulley reveals: “No one will admit to it, but Marines all have a soft spot for a bit of Strictly!”
And so do we! Make sure you tune in Wednesday February 25, 9pm, BBC One for The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief.
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