Georgia's halfway to Florida already!

An appeal fund launched by Evo-Stik Northern Premier League manager Shaun Reid to send a teenage girl who suffers from a rare condition on a dream holiday is nearing the halfway mark following pledges of more than £1,800 - including offers of support from his Warrington Town side’s footballing rivals.

The First Division North leader’s manager is bidding to raise £4,000 to send 15-year-old Georgia Rankin, who suffers from a rare condition which means she will never grow, on the holiday of a life time to Florida to swim with dolphins. Directors, players, sponsors and supporters from the Wire and a number of other clubs have rallied offering support within weeks of Reid launching the appeal. Reid, who grew a moustache and beard for ‘Movember’ to raise funds for men's health, has carried on growing his facial hair to make the teenager's dream come true.

Pictured alongside her dad Simon and Warrington Town Managing Director Toby Macormac, Reid said: "What a amazing young lady. She is inspiring, funny and talkative and as brave as they come! The money will be spent on a holiday so she can experience something we often take for granted. With the funds raised she will go to Florida and visit Discovery Cove where she could swim with dolphins, this would be the best therapy ever!”

Although in constant pain caused by Skeletal Dysplasia which has caused her bones to prematurely fuse, brave Georgia, who is only the size of an average 18 month old child, attends Great Sankey High School and remains positive and cheerful. She suffers with chronic hip pain resulting in the need to use her electric wheelchair at all times and recently underwent surgery to help reduce her pain. Unfortunately, it didn't go to plan and she still requires morphine every four hours.

The teenager's mum Andrea Rankin said: "She has been through so much in her life yet still smiles even though on the inside she feels like crying. She does amazingly well at school despite feeling this way. Georgia's dream is to be pain free and be able to start horse riding again which is something she really misses."

To make a donation visit: www.justgiving.com/local/project/Georgia