A DANCER from Westbrook has created a dance to help raise money for a mental health charity after losing her dad to suicide.

Sienna Swain, 14, has grown up dancing as her mum, Jennifer, runs IndepenDANCE, a dance studio in Warrington.

In August last year, Sienna sadly lost her dad, Sam, to suicide and decided to choreograph a dance in his memory for the studio's annual dance show.

“She wanted to do something for him as there’s not much she can do other than get flowers,” said Jennifer Gittins, Sienna’s mum.

“She’s just an inspiration to me, she’s been so brave and I’m so proud of her.

“Sienna has said to me that if she didn’t have dance, she doesn’t know how she would have got through it.”

Warrington Guardian: Sienna with her dad, SamSienna with her dad, Sam (Image: Supplied)

Sam requested that friends and family that attended his funeral donate money to a charity that helps men, instead of buying flowers.

The family picked Andy’s Man Club, a mental health charity that helps men struggling with their mental health though offering peer to peer support groups.

Sienna, who is a pupil at Great Sankey High School, continued fundraising for Andy’s Man Club through her performance on Saturday, April 20 at the Brindley Theatre.

Warrington Guardian: Sienna performing her dance in memory of her dad, SamSienna performing her dance in memory of her dad, Sam (Image: Jennifer Gittins)

After her performance Sienna had a QR code on stage to donate directly to the charity and stood in the lobby of the theatre during the interval with a fundraising bucket to collect money from those in attendance.

The 14-year-old also teaches classes at the studio and handpicked the dancers who joined her on stage for the performance.

The choreography was a blend of hip-hop and contemporary and included a spoken word section, in which Sienna spoke directly to her dad while pictures of them both were displayed on the stage.

“It seems like yesterday you lit up the world with your smile,” she said in the audio recording.

“Anyone in the room tonight will agree that he brightened up the room when he walked in.

“I miss you dad.”

To find out more about Andy’s Man Club and donate, click here.

Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year, providing a safe place to talk for anyone who is struggling to cope.

Call 116 123 (this number is free to call and will not appear on your phone bill), 01204 521200 or email jo@samaritans.org.