AN ACCOMPLISHED dancer who overcame hip problems is appealing for help to achieve her life-long dream.

Cassie Davenport, 18, has spent her entire life performing and now has the chance to attend one of the UK’s most prestigious dance academies, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).

Cassie’s achievement is made all the more impressive when you consider the teenager was born with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) which means the ball and socket joint did not form properly in the womb.

At just 13 months old Cassie, of Rhydyclafdy, underwent surgery to correct the dislocation and was put in a cast for six months following an operation to rebuild her hip joint.

Using dance as a means of rebuilding her strength, Cassie, following in her mother’s footsteps, excelled as a performing artist and has been a member of Pwllheli School of Dance since she was a two year old.

However, Cassie’s dream of attending LIPA comes with substantial costs.

“The place I have been offered is a foundation certificate,” she explained.

“The only downside is the inability to get any form of loan or grant, not from the government, charities or LIPA itself.

“This means I must find £9,000 for fees and £4,500 for accommodation for the year, a lot of which needs paying before September.

“I’m working two jobs over summer and have already applied for jobs in Liverpool, but this isn’t going to be enough.

“I understand that there are people out there in life-threatening situations who need money as well – and I know that this doesn’t come close to that – but I can’t express enough how much I want this.

“I’m not expecting anything close to the £13,500 total, but any amount of money or support from anyone who feels this is a worthy cause could help to make this happen.”

For more information, or to donate to help Cassie fund her life-long dream, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cassie-davenport or Cassie’s dance page cassieellen.­wixsite.com/dance

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