A BRAVE youngster is finally to see his favourite Disney characters face to face after spending the last three years fending off the killer disease leukaemia.

Jake Scott, five, is looking forward to the dream holiday to America thanks to the Blackpool-based Kensington Foundation which grants wishes to seriously ill children.

They came forward with a cash donation to pay for the trip of a lifetime.

He is going in October with mum Michelle, his grandmother Val O'Reilly and brother David, four.

Michelle, 28, of Ratcliffe Street, Darwen, said: "The one thing that has kept Jake occupied through his treatment is his Disney videos.

"I promised him from day one that when he was better I would take him to Disney and now I can, thanks to the charity.

"We are all ecstatic. It is going to be fantastic, a real holiday of a lifetime."

Now Cliff and Barbara Critchley, landlord and landlady of the Cemetery Hotel in Cemetery Road, Darwen, are to stage a fund-raising night on Friday, August 10 to help them on their way with spending money.

They are appealing for raffle prizes for the event which will be an optional drag night featuring a disco and supper.

Little Jake, a pupil at St Joseph's Primary School in Darwen, has his last appointment for treatment on August 8 as the disease is in remission.

He has been visiting the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury every two weeks for three years to receive chemotherapy.

Michelle added: "He has been really brave and I'm very proud of him.

"He deserves some fun now. His illness has affected the whole family and we will be making the most of the holiday.

"It is a chance for us to celebrate Jake being well."