A Tauranga mother is doing everything she can to put her daughter through a prestigious London ballet school.
Abby Griffin, 17, has been studying ballet since she was five-years-old and her mother, Michele Griffin, has sacrificed all she can to make sure her daughter succeeds.
Miss Griffin spent the last year studying towards a diploma at the English National Ballet School and her mother has already paid more than $60,000 to pay for accommodation, tuition, flights and other expenses. She will be heading back to London next week after spending her summer holidays with Ms Griffin.
Abby said the first year at the school had been a tough one, but it was all worth it.
She said she felt guilty about putting her mother through so much financial stress but was thankful for all of the sacrifices she was making.