Up, Up And Away

The expression of 9 year old Michael as he saw Gerry Francis and Gary Lineker approaching will remain with me forever. The moment was particularly poignant because Michael is suffering from childhood leukaemia and testicular cancer, and football is his obsession.

A presentation was held at Foxhills Country Club to surprise Michael's family with an anonymous all expenses paid holiday to Disneyland, Florida. The club donated extra gifts of backpacks stuffed with goodies for the children, and the Duchess of York had something extra for Michael too.

Surrounded by a loving and supportive family, Michael has braved all kinds of treatments since first being diagnosed at the age of two. Two years' treatment seemed a success, but four months later he suffered a relapse. On the last day of what seemed to be a positive response to the new course of treatment, he again relapsed. Bone marrow transplants by Adam, one of his siblings, appeared successful until recently. On the day Michael's mother and father got the phone call from the hospital Gordon Parris phoned with some good news - the trip of a lifetime.

Michael's mother said: 'We are overwhelmed to think that someone should do something like this ... When you're told your child is ill you want to give them everything, but when you don't have sufficient to do it, it's very hard.

"This holiday has had such a positive effect on him - it couldn't have come at a better time. Michael was tired and going downhill rapidly. I think he has had enough pain amid enough treatments. This trip will make a difference to all of us. We can't say thank you enough to the charity for making it possible."