Why I put this together

People often ask me, "Why are you doing this?"

 

The answer's pretty simple.

 

A few years ago, I broke my neck. Around the same time, my wife Cora faced her own battle with cancer. Those experiences changed the way we look at life. They reminded us that tomorrow isn't guaranteed and that life is far too short not to laugh.

 

I started Uncle Tom because I wanted to give people a reason to switch off for a couple of hours, forget about work, bills and everyday stress, and simply enjoy themselves.

 

But there's more to it than that.

 

I hope my kids grow up knowing that no matter what life throws at you, you always have a choice. You can let it beat you, or you can stand back up and keep moving forward. I want them to see that setbacks don't define who you are.

 

I hope my wife looks at what we're building and knows that, after everything we've been through together, we chose to keep living life instead of letting it hold us back.

 

And finally... I hope I never forget why I started. This isn't about fame or being the biggest comedian around. It's about proving to myself that even after life's toughest moments, it's never too late to chase a dream, make people smile and leave the world a little happier than I found it.

 

If you leave our  shows with sore cheeks from laughing, a few unforgettable memories and the feeling you've had a bloody great night out, then I've done exactly what I set out to do.

 

I can't wait to meet you.

 

— Tom Leadbeatter

AKA Uncle Tom