Support for Amy as her dancing wish comes true

Amy Uprichard's dreams of becoming a ballerina were snatched from her with a devastating diagnoses of leukaemia but as her wish to visit the Royal Ballet School has come true through Make-A-Wish UK, there has been an overwhelming response to a video journal featuring her story.

Make-A-Wish posted the video on their social media page to encourage people to volunteer with the charity and within 22 hours it had over one thousand likes and host of encouraging comments, showing just how much the local teen is thought of.

It was three years ago Amy received the shattering diagnoses - just one day before her first GCSE exam. Amy needed a bone marrow transplant and united with brave little sister Gemma, who was a match, the girls battled the disease and the operation was a success.

Amy, who is a volunteer with Make-A-Wish, said: “Making a difference to those who are suffering means the world to me as I know how much it is appreciated.

“It’s a fantastic charity who put smiles on many children’s faces, and as I said in the video - nothing feels better than knowing other people are happy. I want to make a difference to those who are suffering.

“The charity had rang to ask permission to use my wish and story for a volunteer piece on social media and I agreed.

“It was such a beautiful piece and I was overwhelmed with the way they put it together. I really do hope it inspires people to volunteer for such a great cause.

“The video seems to have had a great reaction which I’m so pleased about.”

Amy and Gemma were delighted to be whisked off in a white limo to visit the ballerinas at the Royal Ballet School.

“To say I was excited was very much an understatement and Gemma was even more excited,” said Amy.

“We really did have one of the best days - I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I genuinely didn’t want to ever leave.”

The ballerinas were delighted to have been chosen as Amy’s wish and said: “most people wish to meet Justin Bieber or Beyoncé or someone really famous but you decided to come and see us!”

After the experience Amy said: “Maybe I’d have been where they are now but as I said to them, everything happens for a reason and I know that I wasn’t meant to go to ballet school at 16.

“But I am now in the path of becoming a dance teacher which was always my end goal,” she added.

“I honestly do think that attitude is half the battle,” said Amy. “I know cancer can be such a difficult thing to get your head around and adjust to, but you have so much to fight for and what better way to do that than in style.”

And attitude and style is something Amy has in abundance - openly sharing her story to encourage others, Amy also danced at the Grand Opera House while on chemotherapy, took time out from hospital appointments to participate in Miss European 2015 and is constantly involved in a host of spirited fundraising efforts.

Determined to defy cancer, Amy’s mantra is: “Let your smile change the world, don’t let the world change your smile”.

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