Ashley Banjo and Diversity took a moment out of panto rehearsals in Southampton to say they are ‘touched and inspired’ by the bravery of a nine-year-old girl who won a national award after beating a rare cancer.
Keeley Parfitt received a personal video message and invitation to join them at Mayflower Theatre from the dance troupe after learning how she’d won a Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People Star Award for the courage shown during treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma.
The soft tissue cancer was found near her eye and involved Keeley, from Dorset, receiving chemotherapy treatment at the Piam Brown unit at University Hospital Southampton, as well as proton beam therapy in Florida.
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In a video message, Ashley Banjo said: “We just wanted to tell you how touched and inspired we were by your bravery. We’ve heard all about you and also how you love to dance so we’d love to invite you to watch us in this year’s panto. We’re really excited about it and hopefully we get to see you and maybe even swap some moves!”
Keeley was nominated for her Star Award by her mum Faye. She received certificates along with her siblings Alana, Thomas and Ella.
Keeley, a keen dancer and fan of Diversity, was just three years old when her mum spotted an issue with her eye in 2017.
Faye said: “I nominated Keeley because of how brilliantly she handled everything that she had to face at such a young age. Being so tiny, you’d think it would be difficult, but she did so well getting through her treatment.
"Thankfully her treatment has been successful and we’re really looking forward to a special family Christmas together as well as an exciting trip to Mayflower Theatre to see Diversity in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’!"
You can nominate inspirational children for a star award, run in partnership with TK Maxx, at cruk.org/starawards
Diversity will be appearing in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from Saturday (December 9) to Sunday December 31. Tickets from mayflower.org.uk
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