Name: Endsley Batton
Age: 12
Dance Studio: AW Dance Company, West Virginia
Why Endsley wants to be a voice for children fighting cancer:
In August of 2008, at the age of 2, I was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. The surgeon removed a 2 pound tumor from my bladder. I had 48 weeks of chemo, and 6 weeks of radiation. My parents say I danced my way through it all. I used to do “The Tooty-Ta” with my radiation team before the put me to sleep every day for my radiation. The day I finished my chemo treatments, my mom took me to a princess dance camp being held by a local studio. At the end of the camp-I was hooked, all I wanted to do was dance! I’ve been taking dance since I was barely 3, and joined my first competitive team at age 4. This year to celebrate being 10 years cancer free, I am doing a solo to share my story, and to give hope and encouragement to those who are just beginning to fight. I may have some residual side effects from the chemo, but that doesn’t stop me from doing what I love and sharing hope with others.