Dying girl gets travel cover for Disney trip

A travel insurer has finally offered cover allowing Hannah Jones her dying wish of a trip to Florida's Disney World.

Hannah (pictured), 13, from Herefordshire, hit the headlines last week after refusing a potentially life-saving heart transplant. Powerful and prolonged treatment for leukemia, diagnosed when she was four, caused a hole in her heart.

She wanted to spend precious time with her family, including the Disney trip, rather than risk the trauma of further surgery with no guarantee of success.

But it was revealed that Hannah's trip was in doubt because her insurers were unable to offer cover due to her complicated condition.

This is Money highlighted the case last week with readers publishing more than 120 comments. The site followed up by raising the issue in a This is Money column in our sister title the Mail on Sunday.

Today Caudwell Children said it had found an anonymous UK insurance company to cover Hannah. The charity, set up by flamboyant telecoms tycoon John Caudwell, will take 40 youngsters to the theme park in December.

Originally, five of the children were refused travel insurance. Four of those were eventually given alternative cover, but Hannah's unique case excluded the majority of insurance companies.

Hannah said: 'I'm delighted, overwhelmed. With only a few weeks to go before we leave I feared that I wasn't going to be able to go on the holiday.

'I absolutely love Disney and watch all of the films, to be able to go and see them is a dream come true. The week away from our routine of doctors appointments and hospitals will be a wonderful distraction for me and my family. We will feel like a normal family for a while.'

Trudi Beswick, CEO of Caudwell Children, said: 'Following the appeal we have been inundated with calls offering help and we are thankful to everyone who has offered their support.

'Since Hannah was just four, [her family] have had to cope with caring for a seriously ill child. Now we want to give them the opportunity to spend some quality time together as a family and offer them the medical and physical support they need to relax and enjoy their holiday.

'Hannah is a truly brave and very mature young girl, around her she has a wonderful family. We are overjoyed that we been able to grant this special wish. Without the support of the media and some kind individuals this would not be possible.'

Andrew Jones, Hannah's dad, said: 'I can't thank everyone who has offered to help enough. Amidst all of the media coverage over the last few days our main aim was to find someone who could insure our little girl for her dream holiday, my wife and I are thrilled that we have been able to do this and now we can't wait to see the smile on her face.'