Brave Mirfield schoolgirl’s perfect pirate break

FAMILY FUN: Julia, Lucie, Laura and Andrew Whitworth at the Pirate Adventure Show.

Eight-year-old Laura Whitworth and her family were flown out to Majorca to see a spectacular show that raised money for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.

Laura, from Mirfield, became a patient at the London hospital when she was found to have an enlarged heart at the age of two.

She had a heart transplant after she was diagnosed and spent weeks in intensive care on an artificial heart machine. She still has to have regular check-ups and take anti-rejection medication.

CELEBRITY GUEST: Laura and Lucy with Barbara Windsor.

Laura was flown to Majorca with her sister Lucie, her mum Julia and her dad Andrew earlier this month so they could go to the star-studded premiere of the Pirates Adventure Show.

Laura, who had never been abroad before this trip, said: “It was absolutely amazing, exciting and incredible.”

Over the last ten years, the Pirate Adventure Show has raised more than £500,000 for Great Ormond Street with ticket sales, bucket collections and auctions. It is supported by Thompson Holidays.

VIP guests at this year’s show included soap stars Steve McFadden, Cheryl Fergison, Claire Sweeney and Barbara Windsor, and Lydia Bright from hit show The Only Way Is Essex.

The Whitworths then got to spend a whole week soaking up the sun at the 4T Protur Safari Park hotel in Sa Coma.

Laura was treated at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital for dilated cardiomyopathy, which causes the heart to become weak.

It means the heart cannot pump blood around the body effectively. It can also lead to heart failure.