AN 11-year-old Bedfont girl with an incurable kidney disease was treated to a meeting with her favourite band JLS.
Lauren Dehaney, of Cassiobury Avenue, is living with Nephrotic Syndrome, a chronic disease that means she will eventually have kidney failure and will need a transplant.
Lauren, who loves to draw and sing and is constantly chatting to her friends on the computer, is a huge fan of JLS.
She has also been helping to raise money in her spare time for Rays of Sunshine, a charity that helps youngsters living with serious or life-limiting illnesses. In February she held a fund-raiser at her school, Southville Junior School, which involved children wearing different colours. The effort raised more than £250. She is busy thinking up more ideas to help the charity.
Rays of Sunshine decided to thank Lauren for her efforts by organising for her to meet her pop idols, followed by a few more special surprises.
A charity spokesman said: "Since JLS have come along Lauren has had them to focus on, and her mum Cheryl is very grateful for this as she feels it has helped Lauren with her illness.
"Along with focusing on JLS, Lauren is a keen supporter of Rays of Sunshine and is always trying to thinking of ways to fund-raise, knowing she is not alone with being poorly has helped a lot."
On Friday (May 20) Lauren’s greatest wish was granted and she got to meet her favourite boy band.
The charity arranged for Lauren, brother Daniel and her parents Cheryl and Dean to be collected from their home by limousine and driven in style to The Millennium Hotel, London where Lauren’s greatest wish came true.
On arrival Lauren and her family were escorted by a Rays of Sunshine representative to a private room where Lauren met the band.
After asking many questions and having lots of photos taken it was time for Lauren to say goodbye as she was whisked off in her limousine to the London Eye. After her 'flight' to see the sights of London from above, Lauren and her family were taken for dinner at Planet Hollywood.
Mrs Dehaney said: "It was just fantastic, it was great to see her with such a big smile on her face. To replace so many bad memories with a really massive, happy one was great.
"It will stay with her for the rest of her life."
