A DREAM trip to Disneyland is edging closer for courageous twins who where diagnosed with the same form of cancer within days of each other.

Megan and Gracie Garwood, of Rougham, near Bury St Edmunds, were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia more than a year ago.

Since then they have undergone treatment and relentless chemotherapy sessions to beat the cancer, often lying side-by-side in their Addenbrookes Hospital beds as their anxious parents Emma and Mark endured what they described as a “living nightmare.”

Their story hit the headlines around the world – including coverage in newspapers in Brazil and Sweden – after the EADT featured the twins earlier this year.

The courage of the identical five-year-old twins inspired their uncle Oliver Brock to take part in the London to Paris Bike Ride, raising more than �4,000 for the charity Children with Leukaemia.

At the same time, close family friend Joanne Bayley, of Leavenheath, began to set up a website and organise a casino night to ensure the twins could go to Disneyland Paris as soon as doctors gave them the all-clear.

Mrs Bayley said: “I got to know Emma as I had twins myself and there’s always that strong connection with other families that have twins. I went to see Emma in hospital when Megan and Gracie were having treatment and they said how much they wanted to go to Disneyland one day. I decided we had to make that happen.”

The twins are half way through a two-year course of chemotherapy treatment at Addenbrookes to ensure the cancer is cured and they can carry on living a normal life.

Mrs Bayley added: “Hopefully we could be sending the family to Paris by the spring of 2012. They obviously know what we have planned, whenever Disneyland is mentioned they start jumping up and down with excitement.”

Mum Emma Garwood, 39, said her twin daughters would be undergoing intense chemotherapy until September. “They are doing great, enjoying school and wonderfully oblivious to how serious this is,” she said. “After September they will go onto a maintenance programme and then, hopefully, we can get on with our lives and take a holiday.”

The fundraising casino night, which aims to reach a �5,000 target, will take place on Thursday, July 22, at The Station Lounge in Sudbury, with roulette, blackjack and a VIP poker area. Music on the night will be provided by Sister Sax.

For �175 companies can sponsor a table on the night with all the money going to the Disneyland Dream fund. For tickets contact the Station Lounge on 01787 374241.

To see the twins’ website go to www.gracieandmegan.org.