Thanks to a group known as `Child's Wish', a little girl who is seriously ill will be spending the Christmas holidays amid the magic of Disney World, accompanied by her parents and brother.

When the case of five year-old Sarah Webb, who suffers from a rare condition known as neurofibromatosis, was brought to the attention of the group, "we felt this was a very deserving case,'' says Child's Wish president Shirley Higgs. "Sarah said that she wanted to go to Disney World and we thought this would be wonderful for the whole family. An opportunity like this gives people a balance in their lives and helps give children the ability to handle stress -- and to know that not everything in life is stressful. A serious, drawn-out illness inevitably takes its toll on the whole family.'' Child's Wish was established with the aim of ensuring that a child's right to experience joy would be guaranteed. Since its formation, the group has provided `dream come true' holidays for Bermudian children which have created lasting, happy memories for their surviving parents and siblings.

As part of the drive for funds and to publicise Child's Wish's aims, Axel Bubenzer of the Craft Market at Dockyard is donating part of the sale proceeds of his attractive, glass ornamental Christmas star, to benefit the group.

Formed in 1994 by Shirley Higgs, Albert Jackson and Jack Ward, in order to help a specific family, the organisation has since extended its scope, with the help of the Junior Service League, to provide special funding for children who suffer from medical challenges, serious illness or severe emotional stress.

Since then, through the assistance of Brenda McClean of Conyers, Dill & Pearman and Tom Conyers of Grey Kempe, the group has achieved status as an official Bermuda charity.

"We are very interested in hearing from people who think they might benefit from our programme,'' says Mrs. Higgs. "It has become very apparent to us that, all too often, siblings tend to be sidelined, with the sick child receiving all the attention.'' With that in mind, Child's Wish has also branched out in an `enrichment' programme to assist those siblings. Because long illnesses are often a financial drain on the family, there is little, or nothing, left over for the `extras' in life -- "things like riding, swimming or music lessons, for instance,'' explains Mrs. Higgs. "So we would like to expand that aspect of our work. And, apart from the big `flash' events like family holidays, we are increasingly looking at enrichment programmes for, say, children recovering from accidents. Another important area for our assistance is bereavement.'' Noting that the latest batch of graduates from the Bermuda Police Training School had voted to adopt Child's Wish as their charity, Mrs. Higgs points out that the Police, in particular, are well aware of the aftermath of traumatic events. "A Police woman came up to me at their Passing Out Parade and started telling me about a young boy who was run over last year. It turns out that he is still recovering -- and has been out of school ever since.'' Board member Jacqueline Horsfield (the others include Dr. June Hill, Sue Sharpe and Tucker Hall) says that the group has been greatly helped by the Bermuda Junior Service League who recently donated $10,000 to Child's Wish.

"This has enabled us to look forward, to see how we could make the charity more inclusive, and help put some joy back in people's lives -- not only for the terminally ill, but others who can be stuck in a whole cycle of medical expenses and hospital visits. So we changed our mandate to include `seriously ill' and `life threatening'. We recognised that we needed to meet the needs of the whole family -- or whatever comprises their immediate family.'' Child's Wish, which is working closely with the medical community and social workers, now needs to get its message out to the general community, says Mrs.

Horsfield. "We would like to be able to grant two `wishes' each year and we now have over $5,000 available to do our special, enrichment programmes for family members.'' Also progressing is the organisation's plan to connect with similar organisations in the US and Canada. "This means that we can join in `international wishes' -- I heard of one child, for example, who wanted to go on a cruise -- and create something of a reciprocal, two-way street. There is the `Make A Wish Foundation' at Disney World which is a separate community devoted to facilitating special care requirements for the whole of Orlando. So if we became associated with that, it would make those holidays far cheaper -- which would mean we could provide for more children.'' Child's Wish is also appealing to other organisations in the community to assist in helping Bermuda's children. "If dance or riding schools -- or any sports, arts and theatre groups on the Island would be prepared to help us, we would be very grateful,'' says Mrs. Horsfield.

Anyone who requires further information, wishes to make a contribution (Suite 971, 48 Par-la-ville Road, Hamilton HM 11), or who would like to assist in any way, is asked to telephone 238-1352.

WISH COME TRUE -- Sarah and her brother Thomas Webb are off to Disney World for Christmas.