James Hobley

James was diagnosed with autism at 4 years old and had problems with his legs as he tiptoe walked as a toddler. He hd to wear braces on both legs and special orthopaedic boots because the tendons up the back of his legs were tight. By the age of 8 he still wasnt reading or writing and attended a special school with his twin who is also autistic...then he discoverd dancing. within a year he was reading and writing and making friends for the first time ever and he no longer needed leg splints. At 9 he could read and write and improved so much that he now attends mainstream school. He has inspired so many peple with his passion for dancing. he appeared in a bbc documentary about his life and also on sky1 got to dance and this year he made the finals of britains got talent. Just before Britains got talent started, he auditioned for ballet schools and managed to win a full scholarship to the hammond dance school in chester. I am his mum and he inspires me every day. He has suffered at the hands of bullies but never let that or his disability get in the way of achieving his ambitions.. The things he has achieved in such a short time, I never thought would be possible. James just keeps on chasing his dream to be a professional ballet dancer and I believe he will achieve his dream. He is an extraordinary boy with an extraordinary story. A real life Billy Elliot witht he added twist of autism. To carry the olympic torch would mean so much to him and would be a memory to last forever.