A HANDFUL of brave Dorset children are preparing for a holiday of a lifetime in America.

Five youngsters from South Dorset, who have all battled with life-threatening illnesses, are packing their suitcases for a 10-day dream break at Disney World in Florida.

They are Jordan McCauley from Bovington, Duncan Green from Long Bredy, Sallie-Beth Lawless from Weymouth, Jordan Oliver from West Stafford and Chloe Ormerod from Weymouth.

They have been handpicked for the trip by the charity Dreamflight and will be joined by almost 200 other children who have suffered major health problems.

The charity hopes the holiday will put a smile on the faces of youngsters who have suffered pain and distress from serious illnesses.

Every child has been assigned an adult 'buddy' to look after them and teams of doctors, nurses and physiotherapists will be on standby to cope with medical problems.

The youngsters start their adventure on Saturday when they meet at the Renaissance Hotel in Heathrow for a star-studded party. Actors from TV shows The Bill and EastEnders will be among the guests.

The group will be given a police escort to a specially-chartered Jumbo jet at the airport ready for a grand send-off.

A military band is to play while the children board the plane and the charity's patron Sir Cliff Richard will wave them off.

On arrival in America, the group will travel to their Disney World hotel in a convoy of 12 coaches with an escort from Orange County Police.

Organisers say this honour is usually reserved only for the President of America and some roads will be closed off.

Over the following few days the children will enjoy fun rides at Disney's Magic Kingdom, tours of Universal and MGM Studios and see dolphins and killer whales at Seaworld.

One of the organisers Trevor Pharo said: "The holiday is a once in a lifetime trip. It is organised to bring happiness to children who are either waiting for a breakthrough in their condition or whose illnesses and treatments have disrupted their lives."

The children were put forward for the holiday by their doctors.

Dreamflight holidays to Florida were launched in 1986 and now take place every year.

JORDAN McCauley has fought his way back to health after being diagnosed with acute leukaemia six years ago.

He underwent chemotherapy for three years, but just after finishing the treatment the disease returned. Jordan, 10, of Cologne Road, Bovington, was then given a bone marrow transplant and put on another programme of chemotherapy, but within a few months he developed a dry cough.

His mum Sarah Guildford said: "He was seriously ill and couldn't breathe by himself. He was taken to Great Ormond Street and they found he had a fungal infection called Aspergillus.

"It was covering his lungs and affecting his brain. The doctors told me he kept deteriorating and wasn't going to live."

But she said that Jordan's condition took a sudden upturn after he had been given a course of natural medicine. Ms Guildford said her son spent three months recovering at Great Ormond Street Hospital and three months at Poole General Hospital before being allowed back home.

"He caught the infection because his immune system was virtually non-existent after all the treatment he was given. He couldn't walk for months.

"But now he's up and about again and is eating like a horse, which he wasn't doing before. Now he is only on natural medicines.

"Sometimes he gets very tired and he has a wheelchair but doesn't use it much."

She said that Jordan's lungs have been badly weakened and he is prone to chest infections.

But regular blood tests have shown he has been clear of leukaemia for the last year.

Ms Guildford said: "Jordan is so excited about going and has been counting down the days until he leaves."

This is Jordan's second trip to Florida after travelling there for a family holiday in 2000.