YORK schoolgirl Kelsie Copping is getting the chance to fulfil her dreams after a local fundraising effort raised enough to send her and her family to Disneyland Paris.

The seven-year-old is one of Britain's youngest victims of multiple sclerosis and came to the attention of Evening Press readers last summer.

The Acomb youngster is constantly in and out of hospital, and her parents wanted to take her on a trip of a lifetime to bring a smile back to her face after repeated relapses.

Through the Acorn Sports and Social Club in Thanet Road, a total of £2,198 has been raised.

Now the magical trip is set to take place on December 7. Kelsie's sister, Naomi, ten, brother Daniel, 16, granny Yvonne and Mum Nanette will join the magical trip, along with one of the organisers, Gill Blackburn, and her family.

The party will travel to London by minibus and then cross the Channel by Eurotunnel because Kelsie can't fly.

Nanette, 34, of Westfield Place, said: "She recently lost the sight in her right eye and we want her to her see the magic of Disney before it can deteriorate any further.

"Thank you to everyone who has helped to fulfil Kelsie's dream."

Kelsie, who attends the Northfields special needs school when she's well, has been in and out of hospital with illness flares since she was four years old, when she began complaining of headaches and a poorly arm.

An MRI scan and biopsy on Kelsie's brain two years ago showed lesions, or scars, and the left side of her body has become weaker than the right.

Her relapses occur when her brain swells for no known reason, affecting the central nervous system.

Nanette added: "Kelsie knows that she's going to see Minnie and Mickey, but we don't want to get her too excited and have a relapse. We're just keeping our fingers crossed."

Updated: 10:56 Thursday, November 22, 2001