A TEENAGE singer-songwriter is hoping to hit the fundraising high notes by joining forces with a youngster battling a rare medical condition.

Emilia Ward, aged 17, has the ‘X Factor’ according to Brandlesholme four-year-old Annabelle ‘AJ’ Griffin, who is now the aspiring popstar’s biggest fan.

Annabelle, who suffers from the life-threatening condition called Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (vEDS) met the performer when they switched on the Christmas lights together at Bury’s Mill Gate Centre last year.

And Emilia, who is studying a level-three vocal artist course at Trafford College, has now pledged to join the Griffin family’s fundraising campaign Annabelle’s Challenge.

Set up in January last year shortly after AJ’s diagnosis, the Annabelle’s Challenge drive has raised more than £14,000 for charity Ehlers-Danlos Support UK to date.

Emilia, who lives in Harwood, Bolton, said: “I loved meeting AJ at the lights switch-on. She loves to hear me sing and I wanted to do more to help the Griffins with their Annabelle’s Challenge campaign.

“I’m so excited to work with the family in their aim to raise awareness of EDS in all their future fundraising events.”

Emilia could stand a chance of winning £5,000 to further her musical career when she competes in the grand final of national music competition Open Mic UK at The NEC in Birmingham later this month.

The Griffin family will be in the audience to support Emilia, who in turn will perform at the next Annabelle’s Challenge charity ball being held on Friday June 6.

Annabelle’s dad Jared Griffin said: “We’ve had such amazing support since AJ’s diagnosis, especially locally, and having Emilia on board with our campaign gives us a great start to our charity efforts for 2014. She is amazingly talented.”

For more details: visit annabelleschallenge.org.

To view Emilia’s music videos: see facebook.com/ officialemilia.

Below: The official trailer to Emilia's debut single Get On This.