16170/1GAZETTE & HERALD: LITTLE Danielle Jefferies' dream holiday swimming with dolphins promises to be even better following the arrival of her new specialist pushchair.
The eight-year-old will travel to Florida on Monday with the Dreams Come True charity for young people with life limiting illnesses.
She has Rett's Syndrome, a complex neurological disorder that means she can't walk or talk.
The St Nicholas School pupil, from Broomfield, Chippenham, had outgrown the special pushchair she relied on to get out of the house and spent weeks isolated at home.
Mum Joanne Simpkins applied to the Department of Work and Pension's Social Fund that provides assistance to people needing funds for mobility, but her application was turned down.
In March, she appealed to Gazette readers to help raise the £1,483 needed to buy a pushchair and get it shipped over from America.
And it came just in the nick of time ten days before mum and daughter were due to make the dream trip.
"It's all tallied up just at the right time," said Ms Simpkins, 33.
"It's going to make life 100 per cent better. It's sturdier and has brakes on the handles. It's absolutely brilliant. It looks really smart."
The pushchair, which has a support extension that can allow for growth for up to three years, also has all-terrain wheels meaning it can be used in parks and fields. Mum and daughter are looking forward to lots of outdoor adventures in the summer.
Owners of the Green Ginger health food shop in Corsham helped make Danielle's dream come true when they donated the first £300 for the new pushchair and urged customers and local businesses to dig deep for the rest.
"I'm so grateful to Green Ginger and all the people that have helped," said Ms Simpkins.
"If it wasn't for people reading the paper and seeing our case it wouldn't be possible and it will make life so much easier."
Danielle is looking forward to her holiday in America, in which mum and daughter will spend ten nights on Florida's International Drive. They will visit Discovery Cove where they will swim with dolphins.
"She understands and she's excited," said Ms Simpkins.
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