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6-year-old who has battled brain cancer gets Disney trip from middle school

BRADFORD COUNTY, Fla. — Story published 6/1/19:

On Friday, a local 6-year-old who has battled brain cancer got the surprise of a lifetime from her classmates and teachers.

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The inside of the Bradford Middle School gym erupted as 6-year-old Paisyn Finch walked through the doors.

Cheerleaders cheered her name and the choir sang Disney songs.

Paisyn Finch lives in Keystone Heights. She is in remission from a brain tumor and on Friday her dream of getting to go to Disney World came true.

“She’s always wanted to go to Disney, and we could never afford to take her on her own, and when I asked her what she wanted to do for her dream, that was the first thing she said,” her mother, Michaela Finch, said.

As Paisyn walked through the doors of the Bradford Middle School gym, she was not only greeted by hundreds of students, but also her favorite Disney princess.

One of the teachers dressed up as Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" and walked out with more gifts in her hands for the little girl.

“I like mermaids, and she’s the only mermaid princess,” Paisyn said.

Through the organization Dreams Come True Jacksonville, Bradford Middle School was matched with Paisyn.

The school helped raise $5,000 and was able to break the world record of 112 hugs in 60 seconds, all for Paisyn.

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“I just said 'Hey, here’s student fighting a life-threatening illness. That’s something everybody, 100 percent, can rally behind,' and so that’s what we did,” said John Greene, principal of Bradford Middle School.

Michaela Finch said she was touched by what the school did for her daughter.

“I cried, I did. I was like, holding back tears and I was like, 'No, it's happening,' and I cried, it was very sweet and she was so touched," she said.

Paisyn will be headed to Disney World with her family in August for her birthday.

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