Two talented teenagers are hoping to help dance the England team to victory - but they need to raise vital funds to help them get to Germany.
Meg, 15, and Beth Wheatley, 13, of The Leys, in Newhall, have been selected to compete for the England Tap Dance Team 2017 with Tap Attack GB and will be heading to the Tap Dance World Championships in Riesa, Germany, in November.
The girls are no strangers to performing for an audience as they are regulars in competitions and are members of Dance Network, in Measham, dancing everything from tap and modern to street and musical theatre.
Their love of the stage also sees them acting, as they are also into amateur dramatics, with Meg performing in Whistle Down the Wind with the Burton Musical Theatre Company and Beth taking on the role of Toby in Sweeney Todd with the Coalville Amateur Operatic Society.
Their mother Nicola said: “They are both excited; very overwhelmed, but excited. It was quite a surprise and it is nice they get to do it together. In Germany Meg will be doing two dances and Beth three, so they are a big part of the team.
“We need to raise around £2,000 to send them out there and every penny raised will go towards training, Team GB kit, insurance, travel, accommodation and costumes.
"We have raised more than £400 so far and we are looking at holding fund-raising events like a fashion show.
“I have also set up a crowdfunding account, and while I appreciate it’s not up to anyone else to pay for my kids' ambitions, we would appreciate you sharing the page for us and donating if you can.
“My family and friends have been brilliant and we are already getting a few donations in. If anyone can donate anything at all to help them it would be amazing.
"No donation is too small and everything we receive will go directly to the girls. Anything we have above what we need will go to the England team. It would be massively appreciated.
“The girls work really hard and this is an amazing opportunity for them. I am just really proud and excited for them.
“Generous donations have already been received from Confident Dining, a catering contractor at Bombardier in Barton under Needwood, and from The Star Foundation in Burton.
"Meg had already been lucky enough to receive sponsorship from the Star Foundation on two previous occasions, and we are very grateful to them.”
Meg, who has been dancing since she was two-and-a-half, has just done her GCSEs at Birmingham Ormiston Academy, which is a specialist performing arts school, and Beth, who started dancing when she was three, is in Year 8 at William Allitt.
Anyone who would like to help the teenagers make their dreams come true can make a donation here. The sisters also have their own Facebook page called The Wheatley Sisters Fundraising Page.
