A brave boy has achieved his dream of swimming with dolphins - and it is all thanks to the kindness of his local community.

When friends and neighbours heard about 11-year-old Declan Tillotson's dream they began fundraising and in little over a year raised the £10,000 cost of a trip to Florida for the youngster who is undergoing gruelling chemotherapy after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2004.

Neighbours, local groups, pubs, businesses and individuals in Pudsey and Bradford held everything from raffles and tabletop sales to a concert during 2005 and 2006 to achieve the fundraising target.

It enabled Declan to spend Christmas and the New Year holiday in Florida with his family on the trip of lifetime, the highlight of which was swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove in Orlando.

Today Declan's mum Denise Tillotson, 41, of Priestley Drive, Pudsey, said: "We want to say thank you to all T&A readers for all the help and support we have been given.

"The trip was fabulous - really quite amazing."

Mrs Tillotson said a special thank-you to family friends Val Womack, of Littlemoor View, Pudsey, Josie Hare and Kath Wilkinson, who worked tirelessly to help raise the £10,000.

Declan was accompanied on the trip by his mum and dad Neil, 43, brother Liam, 16 and sister Eilish, 14.

They were joined by neighbours Colwyn and Chris Toner, and their daughters Loren, 13 and Elli, six, who paid for their holiday.

The highlight of the trip was when Declan finally swam with dolphins in crystal clear waters.

"He was just awe-struck," said Mrs Tillotson. "I don't think any of the children could believe it was really happening.

"It was just magical. We had the most amazing time and Declan absolutely loved it."

Declan's family now hope the memory of the holiday will help him get through the rest of his chemotherapy treatment, which will continue until the end of the year.

e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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