Magdalena Ford is suffering from terminal cancer and her nine-year-old daughter, Julia, who attends Mont Nicolle School, is the person she relies on for a lot of her needs.
Julia won her category in the Variety Star of the Year Awards, having been nominated by her headmaster, John Baudains, but she told her mother that she did not know why she had been nominated.
‘She doesn’t think she is doing anything special,’ said Magdalena, although Julia gets up at 6.15 am each day to make breakfast for her mother and herself, then washes up, deals with other household chores and, if Magdalena suffers an epileptic blackout, puts her in the recovery position and, if necessary, calls for an ambulance.
Magdalena, of First Tower, said that they were amazed that someone had donated funds for their Disney trip after hearing about them at the awards.
‘Julia’s got a few dreams and one was a trip to Disney,’ she said.
‘But we had no idea about it – it was absolutely amazing.
‘I don’t know what to say to those people – I am saying thank you all the time.
‘I hope that they understand.
‘It was so fantastic, and we spent so much time there together.’
Magdalena and Julia were treated to four days at the theme park, where they went on all the rides, had dinner with all the characters, including Cinderella and Prince Charming, attended a Halloween party and enjoyed Mickey’s Special Cowboy Show.
Travel to London, a stay in a hotel the nights before and after the trip on the Eurostar, as well as spending money in the city were also all provided.
‘We had a driver to pick us up. I didn’t have to worry about my suitcase – we had everything. It was absolutely fantastic,’ Magdalena said, adding that she very much appreciated their support and concern for her.
‘She said that everything had been down to Julia, who has also raised funds for Cancer Research, Leukaemia Research and Lymphodema Support.
She also donated 24 in of her hair to make wigs for cancer patients.
A spokesman for Variety said that they were delighted to have been able to spoil this very special young girl – who does not think she is special – and her mother in this way.
