Lucy, left, and Abbie Picture Ref: 77406-66TWO sisters who suffer from a life threatening disease went on the trip of a lifetime to Disneyland Paris thanks to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Abbie Sims, eight, and her sister Lucy, seven, of Haydon Wick suffer from a rare condition called MCADD (Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrog-enase Deficiency).

This means that their bodies aren't able to convert fat into energy and if they don't eat regularly or if they catch an infection or virus that makes them sick they could become dangerously ill.

Both girls have come close to death Lucy at the age of three when she was diagnosed with MCADD and Abbie, who caught meningitis when she was 18 months old.

Mum Lisa, 34, who works in a pre-school and is married to Gavin, 36, an engineer, said: "The Make a Wish Foundation arranged for us to go to Disneyland after Abbie told them that was her wish.

"The girls were talking about it and looking forward to it for weeks.

"We went there by Eurostar and started off with a Character Breakfast.

"That's where you have breakfast and meet the Disney characters.

"There was only one other family there that day so we were absolutely swamped with characters.

"Goofy was the best he made a real fuss of the girls."

After finishing breakfast the family then tried out the rides in the park with Abbie proving that in spite of her condition, she's pretty fearless.

Lisa said: "Abbie went on quite a few of the scarier rides.

"I was surprised as I thought she'd be more hesitant about them. Lucy is younger so she preferred the merry-go-round and the tea cups ride.

"Both girls liked the Phantom Manor which is a haunted house.

"At the end of the day we went to the shop and bought some Disney toys.

Both girls lead a happy normal life school but Lisa has to carefully monitor their health and how much they are eating.

"Day to day I have to make sure I keep on top of it.

"The girls have to eat regularly through the day so that they have enough carbohydrates in their body when they go to sleep at night.

"The school is very good and there is always a bottle of Lucozade in the classroom for if they start to look a bit off colour.

"They visit St Ormond's Street Hospital in London and the GWH twice a year.

"We're very grateful to the Make A Wish Foundation."

Diana Milne