Keen to show how much she has mended since she was seriously injured in an accident last year, Shania Hutton will perform in her own fundraising concert in Dunedin tonight.
The 11-year-old was hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing near her Riselaw Rd home last December, leaving her with serious head and lung injuries.
Shania spent six months in Dunedin Hospital and the Wilson Centre in Auckland, where she received rehabilitation and physiotherapy. She was able to return home in June.
Although she had come a long way, Shania was still far from 100% health, her mother, Jane, said.
The Queen's High School Interact Club has organised a concert to raise funds for her ongoing healthcare, and Shania is excited about being able to take part by singing a couple of songs in it with her St Clair School classmates.
In a show of solidarity, they will all wear blue and orange clothing - her favourite colours. Pupils from Queen's High School and King's High School will also perform at the event.
"It's the first time she's been to a concert since the accident," Mrs Hutton said.
"She's really looking forward to it."
Shania said she was grateful for all the support she had received from doctors, nurses and staff at Dunedin Hospital and the Wilson Centre during her recovery, and she would publicly thank them at the concert.
Shania said she loved being back home and at school, and she had settled back into life as well as could be expected.
She is excited with her progress so far. She is now able to walk unaided and is learning to run again.
Between her ongoing rehabilitation appointments, she attends classes at St Clair four days a week, and it was hoped she would be back at school full-time by the end of the year.
The concert will be held at the King's and Queen's Performing Arts Centre tonight at 7pm. Entry is by gold coin donation.
