Christian Lewis Trust Children's Cancer Charity

Tori was 5 when she was diagnosed with a Wilms Tumour. Continuous chemo, radiotherapy, surgery and hospitals became normal life for the next year. It's funny, isn't it, how normal it can all become after a while? She got the 'all clear' in January 2006.

I am a single mum and gave up work (as a nurse) to become my daughter's nurse. I think the sometimes hidden side of how cancer affects the family is the financial one. There was no way I could have taken Tori to Disneyland Paris without the support of the Christian Lewis Trust.

The whole experience from start to finish was amazing. The welcome pack at the hotel on arrival was a touching start, gifts and a special check in desk with no queue! We really felt special, and that was only the beginning.

I now know what it feels like to be a superstar!! Everywhere we went, as soon as staff saw Tori's blue badge, they practically fell over backwards trying to help. Walking to the front of the queue to meet the characters, past hundreds of other little girls waiting to meet the Disney princesses! We went to shows and sat in special reserved seating at the front, and then to be asked if we would like to meet the cast after the show!!!

We didn't have to spend time queuing for the rides as we were able to go the front of the queue and could always stay on for another go if we wanted to. Disneyland is a really beautiful place and there is plenty of time to relax and enjoy the scenery when you don't have to queue. We went on every ride and saw every show in our 4-day trip. If you are reading this with the thought of going, make the most of the special Disney ‘Blue Badge', don't be shy, wear it everywhere! All sorts of surprises happen, you don't even have to queue for breakfast! And sometimes you get other discounts you don't expect in restaurants! Everyone is so kind. The Character Breakfast provided a magical intimate experience with some of the characters. Mickey Mouse did a great job of pretending to be in love with Tori as she was dressed as Minnie Mouse. I was so touched by the look on her little face. All the autographs we collected will remind us for a lifetime of the great time we had.

The Blue Badge eased our passage around the park and made it a completely stress free experience. The care and consideration shown by all of the staff everywhere was really touching and still makes me quite emotional to write about it.

Thank you, Christian Lewis Trust and the compassionate care programme, it is completely impossible for me to express what a brilliant time we had, and how much it meant to us to have this break away together, with nothing in the world to worry about. To go away together and just have fun.

It really was a magical Disney experience.

Tori Valentine aged 7 and mother, Dawn xx