Hannah Jones, 13, from Marden, and her family have joined 20 other families for the charity-organised trip.

Hannah, who has a hole in her heart, refused the transplant because she had endured "too much pain" and treatment.

Caudwell Children, which found a travel insurer for Hannah after a long search, said the week-long trip would take in Universal Studios and Sea World.

A spokesman for the charity said the children, who all face life-threatening illnesses, flew from Gatwick to Orlando.

'Too much pain'

He said: "The children will be assisted by a team of paramedics, doctors and volunteers."

Caudwell Children said it had found an insurer, who wanted to remain anonymous, after an exhaustive search of 30 companies.

Hannah was offered a heart transplant in July 2007 but said she did not want to go through with it after taking advice from doctors.

She previously suffered from leukaemia and her heart was weakened by the drugs she was required to take from the age of five.

She said of her decision: "I've had too much pain, too much trauma, too much time in hospitals.

"Hospitals remind me of bad memories."