Young dancer Lily and her mum go into self-isolation

Young Perth dancer Lily Douglas and her mum Jane are self-isolating as the threat of coronavirus increases.

Brave Lily, who attends St John’s Academy, has been battling Ewing’s Sarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer, for around three years.

The award-winning dance sensation was set to be performing at ExCeL London with thousands of other dancers but the those plans have been dashed by the rapidly increasing number of coronavirus cases in the UK.

Jane said: “Lily and I are now selfisolating until I know what’s happening with this virus.

“We were meant to be in London this weekend for Move It Dance Convention but have chosen to cancel. I just can’t take the risk. It’s a massive event and has thousands coming.”

She urged people other than Lily’s cancer nurse or those delivering food not to visit.

“We will only be leaving the house to get chemo in Edinburgh – no school, dancing or any events. She is simply too precious to me to risk her getting ill.

“So, sorry to her dance friends who she feels she is letting down but this is so scary to even think about her catching this.”

Earlier this month, Jane had asked for visits to be kept to a minimum and Lily’s dance colleagues to speak to her before going to sessions if they had a cold.

“This is terrifying for people with low immune systems,” she added.

“It attacks the lungs and that sadly is where her cancer is at the minute. She has no immune system to fight anything off.

“For most there is no panic but for Lily this could be fatal.”

She said she is glad the government will secure sick pay from the first day of isolation but called for more support for those with life-threatening illnesses.

Lily Douglas has been battling Ewing’s Sarcoma for around three years.