A DREAM will come true for Bunyip 7-year-old Riley Harris on Saturday when he and his family fly to Queensland for a well-deserved holiday.

With help from the Make-A-Wish Foundation Riley, who suffers from a rare form of childhood cancer, will visit the Sunshine State for seven nights and has his sights set on riding some of the biggest theme park rides.

He has battled his illness, a facial rhabdomyosarcoma (tumour), for the past two years. He has endured nine months of chemotherapy and six of radiation treatment.

His father, John, described the treatments as harsh but crucial.

“It was an ordeal but we got through it.

“The chemotherapy made Riley very sick but he understood how important it was,” Mr Harris said.

Since the chemotherapy treatment a year ago, Riley has been in remission.

“He’s back to being fit and healthy,” his father said.

Riley’s spirits were rocketed sky-high late last month, when the Richmond supporter visited the Tigers’ Punt Road Oval and he was presented with a signed jumper and backpack by a number of star players, including his favourite Jake King.

Riley then appeared on Channel 10 program Before The Game before the Richmond v Essendon match, and took centre stage in a press conference with Richmond coach Terry Wallace, who asked Riley whether or not he would like to play for the struggling side one day.

“No thanks,” Riley replied.

On Saturday, Riley, together with siblings Wade and Teagan, and his parents John and Sharon, will fly to the Gold Coast, thanks to the Cardinia-Casey Make-A-Wish foundation.

Mr Harris praised the Make-A-Wish Foundation and said the holiday would help put closure on Riley’s illness and help the family move forward.

“It’s an absolutely magnificent organisation, Make-A-Wish came out and interviewed Riley about what he wanted, they catered for him,” he said.

“They couldn’t do enough for Riley.”

Bron Saunders, the wish granting coordinator of the Cardinia-Casey Make-A-Wish branch, said granting wishes like Riley’s gave those suffering from illness something to really look forward to.

“It can sometimes take a while for a wish to be granted, because of hectic treatment schedules associated with life threatening illnesses, but it gives patients the chance to think about something else and get excited,” she said.

Mrs Saunders has been involved with Make-A-Wish for the past 15 years, and been granting wishes for the past six.

“The Cardinia-Casey branch normally grants about 12-16 wishes a year.

“It’s amazing, these children and their families have had such tough times, it’s great to be able to grant wishes,” Mrs Saunders said.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation can do so by calling 1800 032 260.