Two siblings from Bury are hoping to raise enough money for them to compete for Great Britain at two separate international skating competitions this month.

Toby, 14, and Emma Halpin, 18, from Bury, are both artistic rollerskaters and have been skating since they were young. This will be Toby’s first international competition and Emma’s second.

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Emma got a pair of roller boots for Christmas from her grandma 10 years ago which started her love for the sport.

Her mum, Ann Halpin, took her to Sunday roller skating sessions at Bury Leisure Centre a few times and when Emma expressed she wanted lessons, she joined a local artistic skating club.

Ann said: “Toby used to watch Emma skate and, as soon as he was able to, he put on a pair of roller boots and also began to learn to skate.

“Both of them thoroughly enjoy roller skating, training and competing at a national level.”

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Both travel four hours each weekend for free skating training with the Roller Skating Family (RSF) based in Colchester in Essex.

Emma and Toby also spend time at the weekends training in dance skating.

They have an international dance coach from Brazil, who is studying at one of the universities in the UK and, since she began to train them in January 2023, they have both improved so much.

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Ann added: “Their training is a big commitment as we travel a lot and have to hire large floor spaces, at least the size of four badminton courts.

“Equipment and competitions are also expensive and have to be self-funded.

“Sadly, artistic roller skating is not widely recognised and neither Emma or Toby receives any sponsorship, grants or funding that other sports can qualify for.

“The little we’re trying to raise through a GoFundMe for their international competitions is a fraction of the full costs, and Emma and Toby would like to thank everyone that has supported them already.

“I am so proud of both Emma and Toby for getting chosen to skate for GB at international competitions this year.

“They are both so committed and work incredibly hard. It is good to see all their hard work pay off and I can’t wait to see them compete alongside the other members of team GB.”

Toby is competing at the Interland Free Skating competition in Mielo, the Netherlands between 18 to 21 October, and Emma is competing at the Cup of Europe for solo dance skating in Pula, Croatia between 30 October and 3 November. The pair are hoping to raise £500 to go towards the costs and have currently raised £315.

To help Toby and Emma, their GoFundMe is https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-toby-and-emma-skate-for-gb-internationally