Girl, 9, battling incurable disease treated to Harry Potter West End show thanks to big-hearted Sun readers
BRAVE Caitlin Passey capped off a magical year of experiences thanks to The Sun on Sunday – with a touch of Hogwarts wizardry.
The schoolgirl, who has incurable Batten disease, celebrated her ninth birthday by going to watch Harry Potter And The Cursed Child in the West End.
Staff at the Palace Theatre in London had kindly donated some tickets after reading of our drive to help fulfil her bucket list be- fore she loses her sight.
Caitlin is one of only 20 to 40 children in the UK to suffer from the rare disease of the nervous system that will also cause dementia before she reaches her 20s.
We called on you, our big-hearted readers, to help her dreams come true.
So far she has met singer Ed Sheeran and watched him perform in Germany, courtesy of Ed, easyJet and the Hilton hotel chain.
Spurs fan Caitlin was also a mascot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as her team took on Everton in October, led by Harry Kane.
Warner Bros Studios sent her heaps of Harry Potter merchandise, while an inflatable hot tub was don-ated by Lay-Z-Spa.
And last Sunday she was once again given the VIP treatment, along with dad Nick, mum Naomi and brothers Oliver and Joseph, for what she said was “the best thing I have ever seen”.
Nick, 38, of Over, Cambs, said: “It was the most magical day and the best birthday present for Caitlin.
“The staff gave all of our kids free T-shirts, programmes and colouring pads, as well as complimentary drinks and food.
“It was VIP treatment from start to finish and I cannot thank The Sun on Sunday and the Palace Theatre enough.”
Earlier this year we appealed to readers to help Caitlin continue to live at home with a specially adapted bedroom when her condition becomes severe.
Our drive has helped to raise £60,000 towards the £200,000 target. At the same time, we have been busy working on Caitlin’s wish list.
Nick added: “Caitlin’s vision is rapidly deteriorating and we are becoming increasingly worried that she may never actually see her finished bedroom.
“I’m sure you can appreciate that this will be heartbreaking for us as parents.
“We are hoping we will have enough to start building her bedroom early next year.”
There is still time to help by going to gofundme.com/f/SafeHaven4Caitlin.
If you run a building firm and would like to supply key materials, email us at sundayfeatures@the-sun.co.uk.