Christian Lewis Trust Children's Cancer Charity

Disneyland Paris - Sophie's Story
Image depicting Sophie's Story
Sophie was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of two. In the following year she spent a total of eight months in hospital due to various complications. It was a very stressful period for Sophie and her family. Mum, a single parent, also cares for Sophie's sister Rebecca aged six. Rebecca suffers from epilepsy and found the events surrounding Sophie's illness particularly traumatic. It was only with the help and support of Sophie's grandparents that the family was able cope with the difficult situation in which they found themselves.

On the morning of Christmas Eve Sophie was released from one of her many hospital stays to spend the holiday period with her family. However, by the evening her condition had taken a turn for the worse and she was rushed back to hospital. Just as the family thought that their Christmas could get no worse, the news came that Sophie's granddad had died suddenly of a heart attack. They were all totally devastated by the loss.

As the next Christmas approached Mum and Gran decided that this year the holiday would be really special for Sophie and Rebecca. They approached our charity with the request that they wished to visit Disneyland Paris over the Christmas holiday. Although Disney does not normally accept reservations under their Compassionate Care Programme over the Christmas period, when our charity explained the exceptional circumstances surrounding this request they agreed. The charity also arranged flights and specialist travel insurance for the family and provided them with a travel pack giving full information of their holiday plans.

Sophie, Rebecca, their mother and grandmother, who the previous year had spent such a devastating, unhappy Christmas found themselves in the magical world of Disney spending this Christmas with Minnie and Mickey!

335 children and adults enjoyed our Disneyland Paris experience and an additional 116 had their visit enhanced by having priority access to all rides within the park.