Dream comes true for brave Georgia!

A teenage girl who suffers from a rare condition which means she will never grow is looking forward to going on a dream holiday thanks to Evo-Stik Northern Premier League manager Shaun Reid, his First Division North club Warrington Town and the wider Non-League football community.

Thanks to a generous donation of £1,400 from Warrington Town's club sponsor Carl Stairs, a £4,000 appeal target to send 15-year-old Georgia Rankin on the holiday of a lifetime to swim with Dolphins in Florida has been smashed.

Reid, who grew a moustache and beard for 'Movember' to raise funds for men's health charities, decided to continue with fundraising after being inspired by Georgia's bravery and happy smile despite her constant pain.

Club sponsor Stairs, who runs the Logistics People recruitment company, was touched by the appeal after experiencing something similar with his own daughter 20 years ago. When she was born totally blind he embarked on a marathon £500,000 fund-raising campaign to send her to America for an operation. Unfortunately, the operation was not successful.

He said: "I know how hard the fundraising can be and had to re-mortgage my home and rely on the generosity of others to send my daughter to America. I am fortunate to now have a successful business and wanted to help with this fundraising appeal."

The Wire's directors, players, sponsors, supporters and footballing rivals all rallied to the cause by sponsoring the table-topper's manager. A grateful Reid said: "I can't thank Carl enough for his generosity - it is a fantastic gesture. The money will be spent on a holiday so Georgia can experience something many of us take for granted. With the funds raised she will go to Florida and visit Discovery Cove where she could swim with dolphins, this would be the best therapy ever!"

Although in constant pain caused by Skeletal Dysplasia, which has caused her bones to prematurely fuse, the teenager, who is only the size of an average 18 month old child, attends school and remains positive and cheerful. She needs to use her electric wheelchair at all times and recently underwent surgery to help relieve her pain. Unfortunately, it didn't go to plan and she still requires morphine every four hours.

Her mum Andrea is over the moon after hearing the news and said: "We are just so touched by Shaun's thoughtful fundraising idea and the generosity of everyone who has donated especially at this expensive time of year! This will give Georgia something positive to look forward to, especially as she faces more major surgery this year.

"To swim with dolphins has always been a dream of Georgia's, this will now be turned into reality thanks to the generous supporters of Shaun's campaign. We can't thank them enough!"