Today, a teenage girl who beat cancer just a few months ago has won a college sports scholarship and is preparing to move to the United States.
Olivia Batty, 19, from Thornton Hough, Wirral, flew to Troy University in Alabama on January 1 to pursue a four-year degree.
She will be rewarded for her tennis talent and offered a great opportunity to play tennis every day.
The Year 6 student at Birkenhead High School was diagnosed with bone cancer in January 2009 after suffering back pain.
She has now been disease-free for 11 months and still undergoes regular check-ups to ensure the disease has not returned.
Throughout her battle, which included 14 rounds of chemotherapy, Olivia has raised nearly £50,000 for charity.
She also documented her cancer journey through an online video diary with cancer charity Click Sargent.
Olivia says, “It's an incredible opportunity. The scholarship basically covers everything: tuition, living expenses, food, etc. And there's a completely different lifestyle there. The weather is warm and I can play tennis. The climate is perfect for that.
“I can’t wait to get back properly. Obviously my fitness has been affected by the illness so I’m trying to get that back.
“I have put on weight because of the steroids, but I am getting there and feel much stronger.
“I'm nervous. I've never been to America before, but I'm really excited.
“I won the scholarship by showing a video of myself playing. Then I had to take the SAT (American School Test), which I passed. My visa was issued in November.”
Olivia was given a choice of colleges, but said Troy best suited her strengths.
At American universities, students typically complete a year of study before deciding on a major, so Olivia hasn't decided on a subject yet.
This opportunity was arranged through College Scholarships USA Ltd.
College sports are a multi-million dollar business in the United States, and coaches recruit players from all over the world to build the best teams possible.
Stewart Stambula, spokesperson for College Scholarships USA Ltd. Olivia's previous accomplishments as a junior have made her eligible to participate in our recruitment program.
“Speaking with Olivia and hearing about her health struggles and determination to succeed gave us even more motivation to find her the ideal opportunity in the United States.
“I was so happy to be able to help Olivia. Not only is she an incredible talent, but her story is truly inspiring. She deserves every bit of success.”
