"WE ARE eternally grateful to all those people who helped make my boy's dreams come true."
Those were the proud words of Jade Croft, the mother of inspirational four-year-old Brody, one year on from the launch of an appeal to raise enough money to send him off to Florida for his dream holiday to Disney World.
As reported, on Christmas Eve in 2013, doctors told Brody's parents the devastating news that he had gone blind in one eye and may eventually lose his vision altogether.
Desperate for the toddler to witness some memorable sights before he goes completely blind, they launched an appeal to pay for a trip to Disney World.
And after the Grimsby Telegraph featured his heartbreaking story, the donations from generous readers came pouring in.
His family also arranged a series of fundraising events, including a football match, a sponsored head shave and a Hollywood-themed black tie dinner supported by Cleethorpes actress Julie Peasgood.
A total of £11,750 was raised – eclipsing their initial target of £10,000, all of which was raised in just seven months.
This allowed them to donate some of the extra cash to the Guide Dog Association as well as When You Wish Upon A Star.
But more importantly, it meant that the youngster – who was diagnosed at birth with optic nerve hypoplasia, a condition which saw him suffer double vision in his left eye – landed in the States the day after his fourth birthday in September, and went on to have the best two weeks of his life.
His mum Jade, who joined Brody, his brother Riley and nannie Karen, said she was left overwhelmed by the generosity of those who donated.
"Disney World was absolutely amazing," she said. "It's true what they say, it really is a magical place.
"Brody absolutely loved it. We did something new every day and it was just the perfect holiday. All the hard work was worth it just to see his face at the airport in Manchester, never mind when he got to Florida.
"He even got to go in the cockpit on the plane and sit in the captain's chair. It just made him so happy."
At the start of December, Brody was also given a festive treat with a trip to Lapland courtesy of charity When You Wish Upon A Star. Jade added: "He had great fun playing in the snow and visiting Father Christmas. He was a very excited young man!
"The whole experience of the past 12 months has been amazing. We thought it would take a lot longer to raise the money than it did – we went from nothing to everything in the space of just a few months.
"To get our target was an unbelievable feeling, and to raise even more than we had hoped for meant we could also give something back.
"I'd give everyone who donated a big cuddle if I could."
She said her son was continuing to have regular check-ups on his eyes, and that his right eye was beginning to deteriorate.
There is also a good chance the toddler will soon have a guide dog.
Brody's auntie Hollie Croft, 23, who has played a leading role in the fundraising appeal, said: "He's dealt with it amazingly well. Sometimes you wouldn't even know there's anything wrong with him. But he does get so tired from time to time."
She added: "We've got a really good feel for fundraising now. We're planning on doing a skydive later this year to raise money for the Guide Dog Association as well as When You Wish Upon A Star.
"We want to keep giving back, just like how people have given so much to us. We want other parents and families to feel like we have."
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