A TEENAGER has won place at a dance school and wants to take the next jete towards becoming a professional ballerina.
Amelie Jones, 13, is hoping to accept her place at Kings International Ballet Academy in September.
Her family - including sister Tilly Jones who is a University of Winchester student - has set up the fundraiser as they need to raise £20,000 to cover tuition fees, accommodation, uniform, travel, competition entry fees, food and other extras.
She has been offered one of only five full-time places available in her year group.
Since she was very young, Amelie, who lives on the Isle of Wight, has helped care for her dad Tom.
Tom had FND (Functional Neurological Disorder), which meant he had seizures, stroke-like episodes, paralysis, loss of speech and permanent chronic fatigue and often spent time in hospital.
When he could no longer work, Amelie's mum, Sarah, had to reduce her working hours significantly to look after him.
Three years ago, an undiagnosed heart condition called Wolf Parkinsons White was found to be the cause and Tom had an operation, which has helped his physical health to improve. However, the years of illness have had a lasting impact.
However, Amelie has not let her personal situation held her back, and her dream is to make dancing her career.
In 2019, she was thrilled to meet former Royal Ballet School principal dancer and ex Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Darcey Bussell, when her dance school visited the Isle of Wight. Amelie even got to pose for a photo with her hero.
In May 2021, Amelie won her ballet solo in the Southampton dance festival and she is due to compete in the All England semi finals, in Portsmouth later this month.
Mum Sarah Jones said: "Amelie has read all of Darcey's books and was thrilled to be stood next to her in the photo taken during her visit.
"Ballet has been Amelie's form of escapism - a place where she can go and forget about what's going on at home and express herself through what she loves doing the most in the whole world.
"She has had to see sights that no child should have to and the constant worry has been terrible for her. "
Amelie has been accepted on a two-year Professional Dancers Foundation course but the school is not Government funded.
Sarah said: "It is a place where she would flourish, and she is desperate to go.
"Amelie is a real inspiration - she has never once complained about everything she's had to deal with in her role as a Young Carer and at times it's been horrendous for her.
"She has also never let it stop her from striving to be the best that she can be.....she is fiercely driven and extremely hard working and dedicated when it comes to her ballet."
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