A Fife girl badly injured in a freak accident as she recovered from cancer is finally on top of the world.
Summer Wroniecki from Cupar will represent Scotland at an international dance competition in Florida in April.
It’s an achievement any teenager would be proud of.
But for 14-year-old Summer, it’s been a harder-than-normal journey due to ongoing problems caused by radiotherapy and then a broken leg.
The Bell Baxter High pupil still has issues with her hip years after receiving the all-clear.
And she wears specially-adapted shoes because one leg is three centimetres shorter than the other.
However, she has refused to let either of those things stand in her way.
And she is determined to dance her way to success in the hip-hop category at next year’s ICU World Championships.
Thrown from a giant inflatable
Summer was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer in the soft tissue, a day after her third birthday.
Doctors removed a tumour and she endured both chemotherapy and radiotherapy before undergoing a major hip operation.
She had only just stopped using crutches when a gust of wind saw her thrown from a giant inflatable in 2015, resulting in a broken femur.
Summer’s mum Karen said: “We couldn’t believe it when that happened.
“She was just off the crutches then back on them again.
“We were lucky it wasn’t even worse.”
She added, however: “It didn’t stop her doing anything.
“She’s the same with everything she puts her mind to.”
‘We’re so proud of her’
Summer trains with Cupar-based Glow Extreme Cheer and Dance, working with coach Hannah Neville.
But she fell in love with hip-hop while with her previous club Diamond Allstars Cheer and Dance.
It involves a mixture of dance and acrobatic moves, including handsprings and flips.
It’s second time lucky for Summer, who was due to take part in the World Championships in 2020.
“We were all prepared and ready to go when lockdown hit and they cancelled it,” said Karen.
“Summer was totally gutted but she wanted to try again this year.”
Training has begun in earnest and Summer travels to East Kilbride every second weekend to dance with the Scotland team.
She also plans to join a gym to work on strengthening her damaged leg.
“She’s a fighter and we’re so proud of her,” added Karen.
Karen will travel with her daughter to next year’s prestigious event, leaving dad Chris and brother Brody at home due to work commitments and school exams.
The team is seeking sponsors to help with expenses.
Anyone who can help can contact Karen by email at kwroniecki@gmail.com.
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