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Helping their children to follow their dreams
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| Talented - Kirsty and Lucy-Anne Hickey love performing |
WHEN teenager Tom Daley won the European Diving Championships last week, Britain's Olympic hopes were pinned on the 13-year-old's shoulders.
The talented diver, from Devon, has qualified for this summer's Olympics, but to get that far has involved a lot of support from his family. His dad Rob even gave up his job to be at his son's side.
We speak to two south Essex families who have had to give up a lot to help their children achieve their dreams.
THE CRANFIELD FAMILY
Tina Cranfield is the mum of Jo-Jo, 14, a member of the British Disability Swimming squad. Jo-Jo, who was born with her left lower arm missing, is currently in Sheffield competing for a place in this summer's Beijing Paralympics. Her ultimate goal is to represent Britiain at the 2012 Paralympic games in London.
To get there Jo-Jo and her family will have to deal with endless hours of training, travelling and competing.
Jo-Jo, of Westcliff, only began swimming seriously at the age of 10 when her PE teacher at Westborough Primary School noticed her talent.
"They were doing a six week swimming course at school and her teacher Mr Morat said we should get her into a swimming club," says Tina, who works as a midday assistant at the school.
She originally joined Canvey Swimming Club before switching to Rochford and District Swimming Club (RADS) at Clements Hall, Hawkwell, two years ago.
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| Paralympic dream - Jo-Jo Cranfield |
Within six months of joining her first club Jo-Jo was competing in a national competition, another nine months later and she had been picked for the British swimming team.
Since then she has travelled the length of the country and across Europe competing, won a huge collection of medals and even broke the British Disability record for the 1500 metre freestyle last December.
To get this far has taken a huge level of commitment from both Jo-Jo and her family.
Jo-Jo, a pupil at Belfairs School, is at the pool at 5.30am four mornings a week and again on Saturday. Then she's back there Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights. If Jo-Jo's there it means either Tina or her husband Andrew, is inevitably there too.
Most weekend are then spent at competitions.
"It costs an absolute fortune," says Tina. "This week it costs £9.50 per event and Jo-Jo's doing seven events. Then the hotel is £104 a night and there's food on top of that. We're here for seven nights. so you're looking at just under £1,000 and that's just for one competition."
"This year we're looking at having to spend around £8,000."
Jo-Jo's swimming costumes alone cost £150 a time, and are only guaranteed for three or four swims.
The family are given £3,000 towards costs from British Swimming but the rest Tina and Andrew, who works for the gas board, have to find themselves.
They do get help from Jo-Jo's school and Westborough School, but Tina says they could really do with some help with sponsorship.
I don't drink or smoke, we don't go out, we don't go on holiday. Jo-Jo doesn't get any pocket money and can't get a part time job because of the amount of time she's at the pool. It does involve sacrifice but that's what you do for your children."
They also have a son Jamie, 20, who has to fit his life around Jo-Jo's swimming. Whenever Jo-Jo goes away to compete, Jamie has to travel back from university in Wales to look after the family dog.
"The whole family are part of it," says Tina.
Away from the pool, Tina says Jo-Jo, who hopes to become a sports nutritionist, has a wide circle of friends as well as her boyfriend Kyle.
I will never ever force her. We never wake her up in the morning, she comes and wakes us up. When it comes to when she doesn't want to swim anymore it will break my heart, but it's her choice. As much as I want her to do it, I can't force her.
Although Jo-Jo shows no sign of quitting anytime soon.
I've got the urge to be the best, and if I don't train I won't be the best. I have given up a lot to get here, I'm not going to lie, and I've lost a few friends along the way. But they can't be true friends if they don't understand what you want out of life. I do sacrifice a hell of a lot, but it's worth it."
THE HICKEY FAMILY
Rita Hickey is mum to talented performers Kirsty, 12, and Lucy-Anne, 10. Kirsty is set to return to the cast of West End show Billy Elliott this summer, while Lucy-Anne has appeared in several shows locally.
Since 2006, Kirsty has also been a pupil at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, London, where past pupils include Denise Van Outen, Billie Piper and Emma Bunton.
The school fees cost the family, of Elmsleigh Road, Leigh, £3,000 a term and since Kirsty started at the school Rita has gone full time at her city bank job to travel into London with her daughter. While her husband Aidan, a financial advisor, takes care of Lucy-Anne back in Leigh.
"Between us we're here, there and everywhere," smiles Rita.
Kirsty got her first break at the tender age of five. Where under her own steam she decided she wanted to audition for the New Empire pantomime.
"She was so focused, even at that age," says Rita.
To her mum's surprise she got a part. The following year she got a part in the Cliffs Pavilion production of Annie alongside Su Pollard. Her big West End break came at the age of nine when she landed a role in Billy Elliott. Kirsty stayed in the show for 14 months, and has been invited back to play a different part this summer. She's also appeared in the Fiddler on the Roof and is the voice of Annie in children's television show Little Einstein.
Kirsty filled out the forms for a scholarship place at Sylvia Young herself, and went through weeks of auditions. From hundreds of applicants she made it to the final 20 for the four places. While she didn't win a scholarship, Kirsty was offered a fee-paying place.
"Knowing she got through to that point from so many, we realised she must have something," says Rita, who then, together with Aidan,had the difficult decision of whether to send Kirsty to the school.
"It was a dilemma," says Rita. At same time, we've got another daughter and we have to be fair. But the girls are so proud of each other, there's no animosity there at all."
Financially it's been a struggle. We go without holidays, but at the end of the day if your children want to do these things, you have to support them and do all you can.
"We don't push anything on the girls, if they turned round and said they didn't want to do it anymore, then that would be fair enough. In fact it would save us a fortune," she jokes.
12:18pm Monday 31st March 2008
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