Terminally ill Hartlepool mum enjoys dying wish trip to Disneyland

Steffi, husband Steve Timms, 30, and daughters Estella, 15, and Chiara, 14, are enjoying their holiday at the Paris resort.

Steffi Timms, 38, from Windermere Road, has terminal cancer and was given just three to 12 months to live by doctors earlier this year.

After hearing of her plight, Hartlepool charity Miles for Men donated £1,500, including spending money, to help her husband Steve raise funds to take them to Disneyland Paris, where the family are currently enjoying a week stay.

Estella, 15, and Chiara, 14 meet Disney characters.

The charity also surprised the family with a hotel upgrade to The Disneyland Resort Hotel, where they are staying in the Castle Suite.

Kevin Hill, from the charity, said: “After we donated the £500 and £1,000 spending money, I emailed the Disney Resort and asked if it was possible – with the situation and it being a special holiday – if they could upgrade their hotel to The Disneyland Resort Hotel.

“It took a month and a half to sort out but Disney had no hesitation to give them the upgrade.

“When Steffi found out she was crying and was just over the moon with everything the charity has been doing.

“That is what were all about, putting smiles on peoples faces, that is what we’re here for.”

They family are staying in the Castle Suite, which means they are given the VIP experience with a private lift to their rooms, breakfast with the Disney characters; and fast track passes for the rides.

Steffi was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2013, which later returned and spread to her bowel and bladder in 2014.

She underwent surgery to remove her bladder in 2014 and in January 2015, but in January the family learned that she had terminal cancer.

Steffi travelled to the resort with husband Steve, 30, and daughters Estrella, 15, and Chiara, 14, on Monday, where they will stay until the weekend.

Steve said Steffi didn’t find out about the upgrade until they arrived.

He said: “We are really enjoying it and the kids can’t get enough. Steffi is still struggling but she is hanging in there.

“We were speechless to get the £500 and then the £1,000 spending money from Miles for Men. It has been a dream come true.

“We weren’t expecting to be in the Castle Suite– it is something that I never could afford myself.

“Thanks to Kevin and to Disney for going to this trouble to make it a good memory and really magical for us.”