A BRAVE youngster who battled back from cancer has left for Florida on the holiday of a lifetime after celebrating a year in remission.

Twelve-year-old Lucy Belk, along with mum Julie, dad Chris, and brother Allister, flew to Florida on Tuesday for a week-long holiday which will see the family swim with dolphins and visit Disneyworld.

In September 2008 Lucy, from Ffrith, became the only known child in Europe to be diagnosed with type one diabetes and coeliac and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) simultaneously.

She underwent six months of intense chemotherapy before eventually being given the all-clear and has since completed 12 months in remission.

The holiday was arranged by the Make-A-Wish Foundation after Julie wrote to the organisation to see if it could help.

She said: “We haven’t been away abroad since 2007, the year before Lucy was diagnosed.

“We were not able to afford it as to insure Lucy would have cost up to £2,000.

“I’d heard about the Make-A-Wish Foundation and just thought I would write to them to tell them about what we had been through.

“Lucy’s a bit different to other kids because she has ongoing problems. We sent forms back and they told us she qualified – we were over the moon.

“The volunteers came over and asked her for three wishes – to take part in a show at Seaworld was her first choice.

“They arranged for the dolphin training at Discovery Cove for the four of us.

Everything is fully paid for and Lucy even has her own spending money. It’s absolutely amazing, we feel quite humble about it really.”

As a special surprise, Julie arranged for a limousine to pick up the family on Monday night from Ffrith to take them to Manchester Airport.

First Choice Limos of Warrington, were happy to provide one of its vehicles completely free of charge.

Lucy, who goes to the Maelor School in Penley, will continue to have regular checks at hospital for the next three years, and Julie says the family is delighted she has made it through the first crucial year of remission.

She said: “Everything’s going really well. She’s doing exceptionally well at school and has done so much this year, like performing in the Penley’s Got Talent Competition.

“She’s just going from strength to strength.”