AN AMATEUR operatic society has put on a show-stopping performance to make a dream come true for a teenage girl with cancer.

Rawdon Amateur Operatic Society were so keen to see leukaemia sufferer Marie Thompson fulfil her dream to swim with dolphins they put on two shows for her benefit.

The group selects a different charity each year and some of the younger members who went to school with Marie at Benton Park, in Rawdon, put her forward as an ideal choice.

Sally Ainge, a member of the society, said: "We have quite a lot of people from Benton Park School in our society. We have a charity each year and this was something that quite a few of them wanted to support. We all felt that it was a worthy cause."

The teenager, who has suffered from acute myeloid leukaemia for almost two years, was forced to leave school last year after taking her GCSEs.

Marie, who has undergone months of intensive treatment, has always dreamed of swimming with dolphins and set up a fund to take her there when she found out about her disease.

Marie, 16, said: "Some people that my dad knows did a bike ride for me and set up a fund with the money they raised. I have always liked dolphins so they thought of that for me. Dolphins are really intelligent and you hear stories about them saving people from shark attacks. It is a dream come true to be able to swim with them."

The operatic society staged productions of Musical Magic and Carousel were more than happy to donate the £1,750 raised from their performances to Marie's fund.

The group surprised the teenager with the full amount for her trip at a special presentation evening at Pool-in-Wharfedale Cricket Club.

Marie, of King Street, Yeadon, said: "I was really pleased. I knew that they had raised some money but I did not know how much. It was quite a shock."

Marie must wait until next year when she has finished her next course of treatment before she is given the all-clear to fly out to Orlando, Florida to see her dream come true.

Marie, who is hoping to make the trip with her parents and younger sister Nikita, 13, will donate any money left over to the Leukaemia Unit at St James Hospital, in Leeds, and Candle Lighters, a charity set up to help sick children.

Carol Larkins, chairman of the society, said: "It has been a tremendous response. It is just great to know that she has enough money to make the trip."

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