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Dream trip for battler Thomas

Sue Carr
19/10/2005

A YOUNGSTER battling a crippling disease is preparing for the holiday of a lifetime thanks to children's charity ChildFlight.

Seven-year-old Thomas Mickleburgh, who suffers from muscle-wasting disease muscular dystrophy, is one of 59 children from the North West to be chosen for the dream trip to Florida.

Now Thomas and his family - mum Liz, dad Nick and baby sister Emma - have just one week to wait for the break which will take in all the sunshine state's main attractions such as Disneyworld, Seaworld and Universal Studios.

Liz, of Simmondley Grove, Glossop said they had always dreamed of taking Thomas to Florida but would have had to save up for years for it.

"It really is the trip of a lifetime and Thomas is over the moon," she said.

"We kept quiet until we were sure because we didn't want him to get his hopes up.

"I don't think it sunk in at first but now it's getting nearer he is really excited and we've even done a backward calendar so we can count down the days."

Thomas, a pupil at Simmondley Primary, is unable to walk very far and must use a buggy.

But according to Liz, the adventurous youngster will give anything a try and won't let his condition hold him back.

She said: "It would have taken us years to save up for a trip like this and we don't know how his condition will progress or what his mobility will be like in the future.

"This is the ideal time for him to go as he can still walk a little bit, so can get full value out of the holiday. He's really looking forward to Seaworld and he's even volunteered his dad for wrestling with alligators - we're still not sure whether it's serious or not!"

ChildFlight is based at Manchester Airport and was set up in 1987 to provide holidays for seriously-ill children.

For information visit www.childflight.co.uk.