HER epitaph is "Born smiling, danced through life" and now friends of a teenager who died of cancer are joining forces for a memorial tribute show at the Lighthouse in Poole on November 11.

Ellaline Vincent was a keen dancer, singer and actress whose dreams of a professional stage career were dashed by her illness. Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer on her heart last year, she appeared to be making a good recovery from her treatment when she was found to have an inoperable brain tumour.

Friends and family rallied around to raise money and help Ellaline fulfil a series of ambitions, including wearing a wedding dress, swimming with dolphins, and having a final holiday abroad with her pals.

She attended several professional and amateur shows and even danced in one staged by the Diane Gulliford School two weeks before her death in August. She was just 15.

Her mother Jo Hart, of Poole, said: "She really did pack it in from January onwards. I've tried to document it all and even I'm amazed when I look back. The biggest one was being able to dance at the Lighthouse in July. I didn't think she would make it, but she did. The pleasure she had from that was unbelievable.

"I'm terribly proud of her and the effect she had on everybody. When she died, there was this enormous outpouring of tears. There was never going to be enough room for everybody at the funeral.

"Everyone said: You must have a memorial', but I never wanted it to be a religious thing. There was only one place to hold it, because that was her second home."

The show, which will be held during the afternoon, is to raise money for Round Table Children's Wish, which organised for Ellaline to swim with the dolphins; and for local dance foundations, including Bournemouth Ballet club and bursaries for pupils of Diane Gulliford. If enough is raised, a donation will also be made to Poole and district Children's Cancer Trust.

Pupils from Baden Powell and St Peter's Middle School, Wentworth College, Poole High School, Parkstone Grammar, Bournemouth Ballet Club, Diane Gulliford and Jo Heynes dance schools will be taking part.

Guest performers include professional dancers Georgina Rich and Rupert Tookey, who was successfully treated for leukaemia as a child, and a few surprises are promised. Tickets for the show are available from Kate Miller on 07968 430053.