"Penny Will Visit Disney World"

OHSWEKEN - Penny Montour will realize her dream to visit Disney World.

The Six Nations Veterans Association has raised enough money to send the two-year-old girl, who has a form of cerebral palsy and is not expected to live past her third birthday, to the Florida wonder world for a week.

The Ohsweken girl has Werdnig-Hoffman disease, a degenerative form of cerebral palsy that attacks the skeletal muscles. Death in early childhood is usually caused by respiratory complications.

The veterans association took up her cause more than a month ago, launching a campaign so successful it has overshot its goal of $6,100 and donations are still coming in. The additional money will be used to start a fund in Penny's name for other terminally-ill children.

One local boy, Todd Longboat, 11, contributed his entire savings of $58.

Penny's parents, Ervin and Shirley Mountour, of R1 Oshweken, expect to make the trip to Florida in April along with Penny's four brothers and sisters.

Announcement of the success of the fundraising came from campaign co-ordinator Essie Martin on Monday, Penny Montour's second birthday.