Terminal cancer mum’s appeal to send daughter to stage school

Jul 10 2009 By Dave Himelfield

Terminal cancer mum’s appeal to send daughter to stage school

A SINGLE mother battling terminal cancer is appealing for money to send her daughter to Britain’s top youth theatre school.

Talented Michaela De Azevedo, 16, of Marsh, has been offered a place at the National Youth Theatre summer school, in London.

Michaela, who has just finished her last year at Royds Hall High School, beat thousands of hopefuls to a place at the elite theatre school.

Her mother Cynthia O’Brien had hoped to pay the £1,000 fee for the intensive two-week course which includes tuition from the country’s best stage directors.

But 12 months ago Cynthia, 54, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had to quit her job teaching at Kirklees College.

Recently Ms O’Brien was told after chemotherapy and radiotherapy her condition was terminal and she would have only a short time to live.

Royds Hall pledged £300 while half-Brazilian Michaela earned £100 doing odd jobs.