Millie's dream comes true...

WE did it . . . with Millie are (from left) Maria Toora (manager Tesco, Westwood), mum Emma Clarke, grandmother Victoria Shaw and Andrew Brown (manager Tesco Oldham)

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THEIR slogan is every little helps . . . but Tesco has done a lot to ensure one adorable little girl's dream is realised in time for Christmas.

Thanks to Tesco stores across Oldham and Greater Manchester and their kind-hearted customers, there is now over £30,000 in the pot to send five-year-old Millie Moran ­to Disney World in Florida.

Millie is a child who has battled adversity with a beaming smile throughout her short life. After just two weeks of in-store fund raising the supermarket giant has generated over £17,000 towards sending the heart-melting youngster ­- who was born with a rare form of spina bifida and hydrocephalus and spent the first two years of her life in hospital ­- on the trip of a lifetime.

Efforts from colleagues and generous members of the public raised £8,500 which Tesco then matched.

Yesterday, Millie had this message for all the thousands of people across the borough and beyond who have done their bit to sprinkle so much magic into her life: "I'd like to send a big hug and kisses to Tesco and everyone who has given money to help me go to Disney."

The Disney dream began 18 months ago with a promise from her devoted gran, Vicky Shaw, after the family nearly lost their little miracle to a severe lung infection.

In March, Vicky vowed to raise the £10,000 needed to take "Frozen" fan Millie ­- who is paralysed from the waist down and has fought her way through over 30 operations ­- on an amazing trip. Since then, so many well-wishers have rallied to the cause.

When staff at Tesco Extra, in Huddersfield Road, heard about their appeal they decided to do all they could to make it happen.

An emotional Vicky, from Springhead, said: "When they told us how much had been raised it took my breath away and it really touched my heart that people could do this for Millie. To Tesco and everyone living in Oldham and Greater Manchester, a massive thank-you for believing in Millie's dream and thank-you to everyone who has been involved in running events and raising money. It means so much to us.

"This is genuinely life-changing as we're now also going to be able to order an electric wheelchair so Millie can enjoy living life a little bit more independently."

A chance meeting with staff at Tesco Extra was the start of the amazing journey for Millie, Vicky and Millie's mum, Emma Clarke, and one that will allow them to grant many wishes for the Blackshaw Lane Primary School pupil, from Moorside.

Store manager Andrew Brown said: "Millie and Vicky came into the store for a 'Trolls' promotion and got chatting to customer experience manager Angela Mullarky about the fundraising to send Millie to Disney World.

"Angela then told me and said what a brilliant thing it would be to get involved in. When I met them I fell in love with them both."

Tesco stores, which staged fun days, raffles and collections, also included the Westwood superstore, Failsworth Extra, Greenfield superstore and Express stores across the area along with further large stores across Greater Manchester.

Marie Toora, store manager at Tesco in Westwood, said: "We are absolutely over the moon with the generosity of people in Oldham and across Greater Manchester and thrilled with the total raised.

"We're absolutely inspired by the strength of Millie and the dedication and determination of her grandma Vicky, so we're thrilled to have been able to help the family."

Mille's mum Emma also expressed her gratitude.

"I want to thank Tesco for their support and for everything they have done. They've been amazing. They've worked really hard and spent so much time with Millie."

More money is set to roll in with Tesco Failsworth raising a further £700.

Vicky and Emma hope to get the all clear for Millie to jet off to Florida at an appointment with her respiratory specialist at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in February, 2017.

The family are then planning a 10-day trip in either May or June.

Despite reaching way above their £10,000 target, Vicky says events already in the pipeline will still go ahead including a curry and comedy night at Clough Manor, in Denshaw, on February 11. For tickets contact Clough Manor on 01457-871 040 or Vicky on 07957-732 536.

She's also planning a thank-you dinner at Clough Manor in March for those who have been involved in the Millie's Dream campaign.