A mum says a unique sport has helped her teenage daughter go from “strength to strength” after she was diagnosed with ADHD.

Hayley Whitehouse knew her daughter Evie Huggett had struggled from a young age, but believes taking up baton twirling has changed her life.

While the physical activity has helped the 13-year-old thrive, there are aspects of it that she still has to battle with.

The teenager, from Lynsted near Sittingbourne, has autistic traits as well as hypermobility and sensory issues.

“She’s got a lot of things going on,” explained Hayley. “It’s really strange because when you look at her, you just wouldn’t know.

“Clothes have been cut up before because they irritate her.

“She's okay with feathers and chiffon, but she doesn't like the certain feel of some costumes.

"It also took half an hour to do her eye makeup because she was sobbing and didn’t like the feel of the glitter. We now know what to avoid.”

The 48-year-old teaching assistant added: “When we go to a competition, she can perform up to seven routines.

“We have to video a lot so she can keep remembering it. It can be quite hard, but she's getting better."

Twirling requires a high level of dexterity and agility, with athletes training to compete with one, two or even three batons at once.

It combines quick movements of a metal rod with coordinated dance and gymnastic routines.

Despite her diagnosis, the teenager has gone from “strength to strength” – winning more than a dozen national titles in the last three years.

“It's amazing,” Hayley said. “It helps her with cognitive development, energy and focus. Baton twirling is like her hyper-focus.

“She just wants to keep getting better and better. She works harder by herself and isn’t being pushed by anyone else.”

In October 2020, Evie was diagnosed with ADHD, but her mum says it wasn’t a shock.

“I've worked with children for 20 years," she added. "When she was about three, I noticed something.

“She was having really bad meltdowns, but they weren’t ‘temper tantrums’ – it was full-on meltdowns where her heartbeat was literally going to come out of her chest.”

The mum-of-three was a twirler for the England team, first starting out when she was 11 and eventually competing at the National Baton Twirling Association (NBTA) World Championships in Birmingham in 2000.

Evie was just six years old when she asked to follow in her footsteps.

“She always loved dancing when she was little,” Hayley recalled. “One day, she just turned around and told me she wanted to give it a go.

“We started with baton twirling and then tried acrobatics and gymnastics.

“She loves performing and being with her friends – they travel all over the place. She especially likes it when she wins.”

Evie won her first two British Baton Twirling Sports Association (BBTSA) national titles in 2022. Since then, she has won eight more in BBTSA national competitions, including athlete of the year for her age group, plus two in the National Baton Twirl Association Nationals and three United Twirl England Nationals.

The sport is judged in a number of different technical disciplines, such as solo routines, dances with two or three batons or props like pom poms, and military-style struts. Evie has national awards in eight different types.

Training involves four hours in the week, six hours on Saturday and between four to six hours on Sunday.

It all seems to have paid off, as she has been selected to represent England at the International Baton Twirling Federation (IBTF) Nations Cup, which will be held in Turin, Italy, on August 2.

The event is costly and the family has struggled to find a sponsor.

Instead, Hayley is setting up a GoFundMe page and on Saturday, June 14, will be holding a fundraising event.

The fun day takes place between 10am and 1.30pm at Teynham Village Hall in Belle Friday Close.

There will be a tombola, refreshments, crafts and a raffle. Entry is 50p for adults and children go free.

If you’d like to donate online, please click here.

Hayley added: “So far, the cost of the trip is working out to be around £1,400. That’s for the flights and hotel etc.

“She’s even got to pay to compete. For her to go out on the floor and complete a two-minute routine, it costs £40.

“It’s not a funded sport, so is very expensive.”