Alesha’s girls go for gold in op bid
ALESHA Dixon’s golden buzzer act on Britain’s Got Talent hopes to win the show’s £250,000 prize so that one of them can have life-changing surgery in America.
Dance troupe Just Us moved the former Mis-Teeq singer to tears last night after leader Julia Carlile, 15, explained a planned operation would prevent her from dancing.
The teen was born with a curved spine, due to the condition scoliosis, but said metal rods needed to straighten her back would dramatically reduce her mobility – unlike specialist surgery across the pond.
After the group’s audition, judge Alesha said: “When you are passionate about something, I cannot imagine not being able to do that. It really touched me.”
Speaking ahead of last night’s episode Julia, who lives in the Wirral, said: “If we win I’d hope to fly to America, where I can get another kind of operation – called tethering surgery – that means I could dance for the rest of my life.
Pain
“It’s expensive, though, so I can’t afford it right now. We have saved £4,000 and we need $100,000 [just over £78,000].”
The teen added: “I’ve had to wear a back brace since I was nine. I have this constant ache at the back of my spine. It kind of crushes your organs,rgans, too.
“If I do a certain tain move I might feel sharp rp pain, but dancing takes kes my mind off that. I used to always cover my back as I’ve got a hump, ump, but the girls have helped me show everyoneyone who I really am.”m.”
Julia is schedduled for surgeryy at Alder Hey Children’sdren’s Hospital, Liverpool, pool, to help her breathe. athe.
She said: “It’s ’s basically spinal fusion, titanium rods in your back. There here would be no moveovement in my side. e. I do loads of splits when I dance, so I wouldn’t uldn’t be able to do that.”hat.”
Just Us includes des Julia’s sister Alice, ice, 17, and pals Poppy Gerrard, rrard, 14, Annie Winstanley,ley, 17 and Rebecca Jordan, n, 16.
David Walliamsms called their audition “a beautiful story about friendship endship and a stunning performance”. rmance”.