A DREAM comes true for a schoolboy from Cumbernauld today when he flies to London to meet his hero, television magician Dynamo.

Reece Newlands suffers from colitis and Crohn's disease and is the lucky recipient of the trip from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

His wish was to meet Dynamo, who was on Parkinson Masterclass recently talking about his own experiences of the illness, for which he spent many months in hospital as a child.

Reece said: "Some of the stuff Dynamo does is incredible. I just think: 'How did he do that?' I can't wait to meet him."

The Make-A-Wish Foundation works with children and young people aged from three to 17 who are fighting life-threatening conditions. Reece was chosen because he has such an aggressive form of Crohn's disease.

Reece, his mum Margaret and dad David are flying to London today, all-expenses paid, and staying at the Platinum Hilton Hotel.

David said: "Dynamo is giving Reece a private audience in a restaurant in London which is being closed off to the public. After he does some magic, Reece will get the chance to have a chat with him and get some photos.

"Reece was very ill last week. He has to be really careful. He is on heavy drugs for his Crohn's which suppress his immune system and any small bug he gets can be serious."

Scotland has one of the highest incidences of the two inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, in the world. Margaret and David fundraise for Scottish charity Cure Crohn's Colitis (C3), based in Glasgow, which is committed to finding a cure and donates 100% of its cash towards medical research to find a cure.

Leading Glasgow gastroenterologist Dr Daniel Gaya, who is on the board of the charity said: "Better specific treatments are definitely on the way, with two new agents being licensed for IBD later this year."

To donate volunteer or fundraise, visit www.curecrohnscolitis.org or www.justgiving.com/curecrohncolitis.