Thalia's dream of going to Disneyland soon to be reality thanks to Scarborough people's generosity

Five-year-old Thalia-Beau Wright was diagnosed with Restrictive Cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects one in a million people, in November last year. As the condition is incurable, her only hope is a heart transplant.

Earlier this year, Karen Ireland, a family friend, started fundraising to send Thalia on a trip to Disneyland Paris and since then a number of people including businesses in the area have raised almost £7,000 to make the trip possible.

On Saturday, Thalia found out her dream of going to Disneyland will soon be a reality at a 'big reveal' event at Irton Garden Centre.

Her grandma Christine Johnson said: "Thalia believed that she was going to visit Father Christmas, all her family was in the grotto and when we came out it was just a case of looking round the corner and Princess Belle was there. She was the only who did the reveal which was lovely because they have a special friendship.

"Thalia was a bit stumped and overwhelmed, it was just a little shock but since then she's done nothing but chat about it, she's really excited."

Thalia and her family will be off to Disneyland in two weeks time, on December 16. They will spend four nights and five days in the Christmas room of the Disneyland Hotel where they will meet and have lunch with Disney characters.

"We're just overwhelmed and humbled by people's kindness," added Christine. "We started this hoping it was going to happen but we didn't expect to be going to Disneyland in the style that we are.

"The lunch with the princesses, the Christmas room, direct Eurostar, all things that we could have cut back on but we are not thanks to how much people have donated. We want to thank everybody."

Among the businesses who have organised fundraising events or challenges for Thalia are Barbelle Gym, OurCo, Julie Hatton School of Performing Arts, Steps Ahead hair salon and Hays Travel.