Worthing girl selected to join Team England after going to World Cheerleading Championships tryouts to support a friend

Libby Bridle, 12, trains with Vengeance Allstars at Thomas A Becket Junior School in Tarring and went to the tryouts in London to support her friend – then ended up being selected herself.

Sister Abby Bridle said the whole family was so proud of Libby, being selected out of 150 people to compete for Team England, especially after dealing with the loss of their father to cancer only two years ago.

Abby said: "Libby is the most talented person I know. She went to these tryouts to support her friend and made the team herself. We are so proud of her but it’s given us so little time to plan or prepare.

"If you know Libby, you will understand how much this means to her. Libby is such a good girl. She’s so smart and passionate about everything she does.

"When we lost our father to terminal brain cancer in 2021, I was terrified that she would lose the sporty part of her and I was so wrong. My dad was so passionate about sport, he wanted his children to be the best at everything. When he died, a small part of us all did.

"I thought Libby would lose the drive she had. But that’s not Libby. She got better, stronger, faster. Where we come from, people like us don’t get chances like this. She’s had to work twice as hard to be recognised half as much. No matter who looks down their noses at her, she doesn’t give up. Instead she gives them a reason to look away. This girl deserves everything and more. She has been through way too much, way too young and she deserves this."

With their mum now a single parent, the family is rallying round to try to get the money together for Libby and Abby has launched a GoFundMe page with a target of £5,000 to cover travel, fees, passport, flights, accommodation, uniform, visa and insurance.

Visit www.gofundme.com/f/libby-compete-for-team-england for more information and to make a donation.

Abby said: "We know in our hearts Libby will be the greatest of us all; we are struggling to get her there. She asks for nothing and works so hard. Over the coming months, we will be fundraising in every single way that we can.

"If you are a business, or know a business, that may be able to sponsor Libby, please get in contact with me as we have plans for her to do some local fundraising and what better advertisement than being seen to help a young girl achieve her dream?"