A FUNDRAISING campaign, to send a five-year-old boy with cancer on a dream trip to meet Mickey Mouse has started in a Bradford village.

Shaun Markey, who suffers from high risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, was due to go to Disneyland in California in May with his family, but the trip was cancelled after he was diagnosed with the disease in April.

Now, staff at Tesco in Queensbury and village residents are clubbing together to help the Shibden Head Primary Academy pupil realise his dream of meeting his animated hero.

So far, money has been raised at a music event in the village and by staff at the supermarket tackling a simulated 4,235-mile ride to Florida, where Walt Disney World is.

The store's community champion David Lightfoot said: "Shaun, who still has just under three years of chemotherapy left to face, really does want to meet his hero Mickey, but his parents had to cancel their planned trip earlier this year when his condition was first diagnosed.

"Having lived through six months of chemotherapy myself, I know just how important it is to have a goal to focus on - a light at the end of a very dark tunnel, so to say.

"In my case it was a promise of new golf clubs. With Shaun, it is a trip to Florida. Shaun's parents and grandmother have started fundraising and now Tesco have agreed to help with fundraising over the next quarter."

The cycling challenge, which took place in the presence of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, saw customers donate £809 over two days. Store manager Steve Dawson managed 23 miles in one hour.

Mr Lightfoot said: "They hadn't set a target for the fundraising but wanted just to raise as much as possible for the chirpy little chap that Shaun is.

"In the past Queensbury people have shown to be very generous towards the different charities which Tesco are involved with and we hope that this generosity continues this time for one of their own."

An auction night is set to take place in January, with other events at the planning stage.

Shaun's mum Tina said staff at the charity where she works were also planning fundraising activities. Tina, who lives with husband Paul, added: "I want to say a massive thank you to everyone. We have been overwhelmed by the support, not just the financial support but also the emotional support. People have been asking about Shaun, wanting to know how he is."

On Shaun's diagnosis, she added: "He was a very healthy and energetic boy. It knocked the stuffing out of us all. His mobility has been badly affected.

"But he is a fighter. And he is a star - an absolute star.

"He is dealing with it marvellously.

"He has got an understanding of his treatment, and he knows he has cancer and that he has to have medicine but because he is a child, he just gets on with it."

Mr Lightfoot added: "Both Tesco and Shaun's parents would like to thank all of the people who donated such a fabulous sum. It just underlines the fact that Queensbury folk are extremely generous. We would also like to thank the staff at Legends Gym for the loan of a cycle."