The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Young skater wows the crowds
INSPIRATION: Monifieth girl diagnosed with cancer aged just one takes to ice with TV skating star
An inspiring Monifieth girl diagnosed with cancer days after her first birthday has fulfilled one of her dreams by skating at a world famous ice rink.
Georgia Hillman, 10, showed to the world how far she has come by spinning across the ice at the Natural History Museum in London with Dancing on Ice star Frankie Seaman.
The award-winning youngster glided across the rink to mark the launch of this year’s Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards.
Aspiring figure skater Georgia was diagnosed with a form of kidney cancer, which presented as a tumor in her stomach the size of a football.
She underwent chemotherapy and an operation to have it removed, before undergoing therapy for seven months.
She is now doing really well and is on her way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional figure skater and already competes at a national level.
Georgia fulfilled one of her dreams by skating at the ice rink in London with idol Frankie Seaman – a British figure skating champion and former star of the hit TV show Dancing on Ice.
Georgia said: “Dancing on the ice with Frankie at the Natural History Museum today was magical and made me even more excited for Christmas.
“Receiving a Star Award inspired me – I look back at what I’ve been through and it’s only made me stronger and more determined.”
Georgia’s mum Ruth said: “Hearing that my baby had cancer was something I never expected.
“It was the most terrifying few years of our lives, but we got through it and she has gone from strength to strength ever since. We are so proud of her, she has achieved so much.
“Ice skating is a huge passion for Georgia – she puts her all into it. It’s a hobby that lets her run free which is amazing after everything she’s been through.
“Watching her perform with Frankie at the Natural History Museum ice rink is a memory I’ll never forget.
“We treasure moments like these, and never take them for granted.”
Frankie said: “Georgia is amazing, she’s so talented, and it has been a breath of fresh air skating with her.
“She went through so much at such a young age but hasn’t let that stop her following her dream of becoming such an amazing skater.
“Her skill and technique is fantastic, it was an honour to meet her – she gets a 10 out of 10 from me.”
Nominations for this year’s Star Awards are now open. For more information visit visit cruk.org/kidsandteens.