A CREWKERNE girl has been on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Florida thanks to charity for disabled children.

Sophie-May Hughes, 10, returned home this week after the trip to Disney World funded by Caudwell Children.

Sophie-May, who has complex medical needs, visited Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios and Seaworld with her parents Kelly, 33, and Mark, 35, and her six-year-old sister Molly.

Speaking before the trip, Mark said: “Molly and Sophie-May rarely get the opportunity to do things together as Sophie-May is either in hospital, at appointments, or in her wheelchair.

“So this holiday would be the perfect opportunity to make some positive, happy memories together, free from hospital appointments.

“It would provide Molly with fond memories of her sister that she would be able to look back on when she is older.

“It would allow her to remember something positive rather than something negative.”

The trip was made possible thanks to fundraising support from Caudwell Children, a national charity that provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families.

Trudi Beswick, chief executive of Caudwell Children, said: “For many families caring for children with terminal or life-threatening conditions, the thought of leaving the protected environment of their home town and their regular medical support fills them with dread.”

The charity created the annual Destination Dreams holiday in 2007 to give 25 children with life limiting conditions the opportunity to experience a fully supported dream holiday.

Sophie-May was diagnosed with Pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 6 (PCH6) when she was five years old.

It is a rare condition that is characterised by the progressive degeneration of various parts of the brain. The condition also means that the Sophie-May has spastic quadriplegia and epilepsy.

Many children who have PCH6 do not live past infancy and currently Sophie-May is the oldest child in the world with the condition.

“By providing 24 hour professional medical provision and a team of volunteers, for the duration of the trip, Destination Dreams gives families the chance to create happy holiday memories, often for the first time,” Trudi added.

“I would ask the local community to support us so that we can take more children, like Sophie-May, on the trip next year.”

The families stay in their own villa at a unique resort, Give Kids the World, specifically designed for children with a high medical dependency.

For more information on Destination Dreams, visit www.caudwellchildren.com.