A YOUNG leukaemia victim's dream of visiting Florida's Disneyworld could soon be a reality after family and friends launched a special fund.

Ten-year-old Melanie Wild was diagnosed with leukaemia 18 months ago - and then suffered another cruel twist of fate several months later when doctors told her she also had the brittle bone disease osteoporosis.

Now the Tadcaster East Primary School pupil only has to walk 100 yards before she becomes very tired and has to rest her aching back and legs.

Mercifully, all the current signs point to Melanie being in remission but it will be another three and a half years before she is given the all-clear.

After intensive chemotherapy at St James's Hospital in Leeds, she is still on chemotherapy tablets and steroids.

Doctors are trying to combat the osteoporosis with a special infusion every four months to strengthen her bones, but they cannot say yet whether it is working or not because it is a new technique which is still on trial.

Her mother Susan Wild, 38, of Manor Road, Tadcaster, said: "We just don't know what the future holds, so we're determined her dream of visiting Disneyworld will come true.

"Melanie has been remarkably brave. She just gets on with her life as best she can, and tries to keep smiling."

A special account has been set up for her daughter at Hill Top Post Office, in York Road, Tadcaster.

Mother-of-two Mrs Wild, a part-time cook at the local Sarah Brownridge food factory, is trying to boost the fund with a sponsored slim, and had so far raised over £200 after losing more than a stone. Melanie herself organised a disco at the town's British Legion Club, raising £418 - half of which the selfless youngster handed over to Candlelighters, the children's leukaemia charity at St James's Hospital.

Her grandfather is also on a sponsored slim, and canteen workers at John Smith's brewery collected over £800 with a sponsored walk.

Touched by her plight, members of Weightwatchers slimming clubs at Tadcaster, Sherburn-in- Elmet and York, have handed over all their Easter eggs to St James' Hospital children's leukaemia ward.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the fund should make cheques payable to Melanie Wild and send them to Hill Top Post Office.