AN operatic group is hoping to hit a high note by helping an ill Yeadon girl realise her ambition of swimming with dolphins in America.

Marie Thompson, 15, of King Street, suffers from acute leukaemia, and is at present receiving treatment for her illness.

Now a fund has been set up for her dream trip and has already raised in the region of £3,000 .

Members of Rawdon Amateur Operatic Society, some of whom attend Benton Park School, where Marie is a pupil, heard about the appeal and decided to chip in.

Proceeds from their show, Musical Magic, which is being performed this week at Guiseley Theatre and finishes on Saturday, are being donated to the cause.

Marie is currently six months into a two year course of treatment for the disease and her father, Andrew, said Marie was hoping to make the trip to America sometime next year.

"She has always had a passion for dolphins and had seen a programme on television about people swimming with dolphins. Since then she has had an ambition to swim with dolphins herself and we are hoping to take her to America to realise her dream sometime next year," he said,

Mr Thompson said there had been a tremendous response since the fund was started.

"When Marie's illness was diagnosed last July, some local lads decided to raise some money for her by doing a bicycle ride from Yeadon Liberal Club to Skipton and back by the canal bank. They did the ride in a day and raised quite a bit of money," said Mr Thompson.

Boys from Bradford Grammar School also took part in a five-a-side football match and raised about £2,000, a Blue's Night at the Clothiers Inn at Yeadon raised about £500, Unit Four at Yeadon organised a sponsored square and raised around £370, patrons at the Crown Inn, Yeadon, have raised about £100 and three members of Yeadon Constitutional Club raised £100 from a sponsored head shave.

Mr Thompson said he and his wife, Sharon, also organised a raffle at a 60s and 70s night at Yeadon Liberal Club and raised about £400.

"People have been very generous and we have been overwhelmed by the response," he said.

Rawdon Amateur Operatic Society's, Musical Magic, features song and dance numbers from a variety of musicals including Cats, My Fair Lady, Starlight Express and Oklahoma.

Tickets can be ordered by ringing 0113-2504564.

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