A CAMPAIGN has been launched to help a little girl achieve her dream of becoming a ballet dancer.

Three-and-a-half-year-old Amelia Craig has cerebral palsy after being born 10 weeks prematurely.

The painful condition mostly affects her limbs and means the muscles in her legs are permanently contracted.

She cannot put her feet flat down on the ground and can only walk very short distances on the tips of her toes.

The youngsters parents, Alana, 29, and William, 36, from Hove, have to make sure Amelia is supervised at all times because if she falls over, she cannot stand up again without help.

Amelia also has problems with her left arm and movements are a little disjointed.

Alana said: “Doctors have told us that if things continue as they are, her knees and feet will turn in and the condition will deteriorate as she gets older to the point where she may need a wheelchair.”

Doctors say the best option to improve Amelia’s quality of life is an operation called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR).

This involves severing nerves to release the stiffness in Amelia’s legs and help her walk more easily.

However SDR, while recognised by the NHS, is not currently funded and the family has to raise £85,000 to cover the cost of the operation and two years of intensive rehabilitation physiotherapy afterwards.

Amelia has been selected and approved by Great Ormond Street Hospital in London for the surgery so her family have now launched a campaign to raise the money needed.

They are hoping Amelia may be able to have the operation next March ahead of her starting school the following September.

Alana added: “Amelia is a really happy child and has some great friends but I can see her face at times when she sees other children doing things she can’t do like using a trampoline.

“All she wants to do is to be able to join in and be in the middle of everyone else walking and and running around, walking the dog or riding a bike.

“Her ultimate dream would be to go to dance and ballet classes and dance like a real princess.”

The family is keen to hear from fundraisers interested in holding events to help with the campaign.

To find out more and how to donate and get involved, go to ameliassdrwish.com or visit the Facebook page Amelias SDR Wish.