TEENAGER Zoe Foster was jetting out to America today to fulfil her dream of swimming with the dolphins.

Thanks to a local fund-raising drive, the schoolgirl who is fighting for her sight will be able see her dream come true.

Zoe, from Harwood, suffers from the rare Usher Syndrome which causes sight loss over a number of years.

In March, ambulanceman Steve Vickers launched a fund-raising and awareness campaign backed by staff and locals at the Grey Mare Inn in Harwood to help Zoe fulfil her ambition before her sight deteriorated too far.

But then came the difficult task of arranging the swim with the dolphins, which are reputed to have untapped therapeutic and healing powers.

After sending faxes and letters, her father Graham finally received the telephone call he had been waiting for just a days before the family flew out to Florida.

He said: "It was the director from the Dolphin Research Centre in Marathon saying Zoe could swim with the dolphins.

"She is really excited - she loves dolphins and has posters of them all over the bedroom wall.

"This has been a bit of a crusade to highlight the syndrome and give Zoe something special she will always remember however her sight deteriorates.

"Dolphins are supposed to have some kind of magic so may be they will be able to help Zoe in some way."

Wife Lynn and sister Zara, aged 11, are also going on the two week trip and Zoe will also get a chance to take in DisneyWorld and other major attractions.

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