A teenager from Tadley who dreams of starring on the stage is hoping the local community will help her fulfil her dreams and overcome personal tragedy.
Laura Whiteway started taking dance lessons aged four before graduating to musical theatre and taking the lead role in a host of productions. Now she has been accepted as a student at Bodyworks Dance Studio in Cambridge, alma mater of Pineapple Dance Studios' Louie Spence, where she will study for an NVQ qualification equivalent to an honours degree.
But aged only 16, the Hurst Community College pupil is not eligible for a student loan and must raise a massive £45,000 to pay for three years' tuition, accommodation and living expenses.
"It started when I was four - I used to dance around the house singing along to Steps and the Spice Girls and my mum put me in ballet lessons, and I absolutely loved it," said Laura, a regular member of the Silchester Players. "By age five I started entering dance competitions. You get such a buzz performing for different audiences. I knew what I wanted to do and tried to do as much of it as possible."
Laura has spent the past few months trying to fit four jobs - teaching dance to youngsters, serving fish and chips at Franklin Special Fry, waitressing at Chinese restaurant NG Palace and the Broomsquire Hotel - around her training and school studies. But her fundraising has been complicated by a tragedy that struck Laura's family in 2008 when her father, Tim, took his own life at the age of 43 after a long battle with mental illness.
For the past three years, single mum Andrea, 42, has had to raise Laura and her three siblings on her own at their home in Bond Close, and money is tight. "I couldn't have asked for mum to be better, and I know when she watches me she feels proud," said Laura. "My passion for performing is massive anyway, but what happened puts life in perspective. Performing became my escape. It was brilliant to be able to be someone else for a while."
Laura hopes to save around £1,000 by the end of the year, and has been given a donation of £450 by the Tadley-based Turbary Allotment Charity. She has also had £250 from staff at her school.
"People have been very generous," she said. "We're hoping to get the first and second terms paid for and after that I will come back and work over the summer and at Christmas. I've also applied for jobs in Cambridge. I just love it there, the atmosphere is amazing and skips down the hallways and sings on the stairs. It feels like home.
With the help of her aunt Alison, Laura has set up a website, www.laurawhiteway.co.uk, to try and drum up funds to make her dream come true, built and hosted for ere by Newbury's SDK Solutions. On September 1 she and 20 of her fellow young performers will hold a show at Burghclere CSA Club, a night of singing, dancing and entertainment.
She has collected donations from local businesses and group for a raffle and auction on the night, including a Reading FC signed football, hair and beauty vouchers, laptop, gym memberships, signed One Direction merchandise and days out tickets.
Tadley firefighters have also agreed to give up their time to help her with a charity car wash at the town station, in Franklin Avenue, between 10am and 4.30pm on Saturday, September 3. And they are also appealing for a pub to come forward and let them host a fundraising quiz night.
"I just hope someone sees the potential in me," said Laura, "and wants to support a local girl."
For more information or to make a donation to Laura, visit www.laurawhiteway.co.uk
