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Talented Katie is through to finals
A TALENTED teenager with special needs is through to the finals of a Britain's Got Talent-style competition.
Katie Higgins, a pupil at Ravenscliffe High School, will take to the stage for the grand final of the Forget Me Not Factor.
She wowed the three judges at her audition at Halifax Irish Club by signing to music – moving them to tears.
Katie's mum Mary said: "It's not about winning, it is about showing what Katie and other people with special needs can do. We are really excited about it."
Although 19-year-old Katie does not have hearing or speech problems, she learnt sign language to communicate with her friends at Ravenscliffe. She has passed exams in signing and goes into primary schools to teach the children signing to music.
And she has been hard at work at home in Mill Bank, preparing several songs for the event including You're Beautiful by James Blunt and Mamma Mia by Abba.
Mary said: "It gives her so much confidence. She got up on stage in front of the judges for her audition and for me it was the best she had ever done it.
"But at the end of the day it's about getting money for the trust."
Katie is one of four Calderdale acts appearing in the grand final, which will help the Forget Me Not Trust raise money for a children's hospice in West Yorkshire.
The others are brother and sister act Folk on Fire, of Holywell Green, Diane Wales, of Mixenden, Halifax, a classically trained opera singer, and Heather Kendrick, 10, of Shelf, who sang songs from the musical Annie in the auditions.
The four Kirklees finalists are 10-year-old singer Shanta Pinnock, who attends Field Lane Primary, Rastrick, singer Suze Nelson, 12-year-old street dancer Denon James and 13-year-old singer Lucie MacGregor.
They will all be trying to impress the judges, but it will be the audience who decides the winner.
The event takes place at the Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield, tonight. Doors open at 6.15pm and the show starts at 7pm.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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