Daniel's story "I'll never forget the look on Daniel's face when he met Philip Schofield,"Jayne Watson remembers. "His face just lit up and he couldn't believe his eyes."

Daniel is a six-year-old from Abingdon with aplastic anaemia. He spends most of his time in hospital and is very ill.

Jayne Watson is the area co-ordinator for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

And for one day she was able to help Daniel forget his life-threatening illness and make his dream come true.

He was whisked to London with his parents in a stretch limousine to a preview of the West End musical Dr Dolittle.

His mum Melanie Leggett said: "It was a surprise, because he was so ill and miserable we didn't want to get his hopes up if he couldn't manage it.

"He brightened immediately. The effect of the news was magical. He was transformed, energised, eager to be up and grasping life again. I shall treasure that memory for many years to come.

"When we told him, he managed to walk to the car without his wheelchair."

Before the show he was taken backstage to meet the main star, Phillip Schofield.

Melanie said: "Phillip was so good with him and they played with the animals. Then we went upstairs and bumped into Julie Andrews, who does the voice of Polynesia the parrot. They talked for ages."

A few days later he got a parcel with a big bear from the stars of the show - and it was all thanks to Make-a-Wish. My Disney delight Alison Todd was born with a hole in the heart which means part of a main artery is missing.

Confined to a wheelchair for much of her life, Alison also has a twisted spine, which makes walking and breathing difficult.

Now 26, Alison was given two years to live at birth. But she has confounded doctors with her determination to survive against the odds.

Throughout her struggles, one memory stands out in her mind.

Ten years ago her dreams came true when she jetted off to DisneyWorld for the holiday of a lifetime with her family - paid for by the Make-a-Wish foundation.

Alison, who lives in Milton Common, near Thame, said: "The foundation asked me for three wishes. My first wish was to go to America.

"So when I got the phone call asking if I wanted to go to Florida I cried," she remembered.

She was accompanied by her parents, Judith and Derrick, and her brother David on the eight-day trip.

"It was spectacular out there and it made me very happy," she said.

Mum Judith said the holiday was something they would treasure for ever.

"It was so special. Doctors felt Alison needed something to give her a boost so they arranged for the foundation to grant her wish.

"It's not just for the children but for the families to have memories. They get a sense of fulfilment knowing their child has done something magical."

Earlier this month, Alison joined 2,000 children and celebrities, including Bobby Davro and Keith Chegwin, for the foundation's annual party at the famous Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire. Wishes can come true

Make-A-Wish was founded in 1986 and has carried out more than 1,200 wishes.

Children need to be aged between three and 18 and suffering from a life-threatening illness to apply.

For further information telephone 01865 300121.

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