We all love a good day out at the zoo and for one family in particular, a trip out at Wingham Wildlife Park near Canterbury was a particularly special occasion.

KentOnline and KMTV’s charity of the year, Starlight Children’s Foundation, granted Ffion Jones her wish to enjoy her favourite kind of day out with her twin and her parents.

Starlight organised for Ffion and her family to have a penguin feeding experience and a chance to get up close and personal with endangered ring-tailed lemurs.

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Ffion, 5, suffers from a chronic lung condition known as small airways disease. This means that she sometimes struggles to breathe and that she gets very tired.

However, she was full of energy when feeding the penguins their smelly fish and the lemurs their fruity breakfast at Wingham. Even when they got a bit too friendly!

VIDEO: Watch as Ffion enjoys her lemur experience.

When asked about how she found the lemurs, Ffion replied: “They were kind and funny” but said of the penguins: “They were smelly and hungry,” adding that the lemurs were her favourites.

Her parents, Geraint and Sue said: “For Ffion, days like this are like a time out from taking medicines and the daily grind of having a medical issue. It’s one of the only times when she gets to relax and enjoy herself.

“[Starlight events] are where Ffion comes out the most because she likes being treated normally and she doesn’t feel like she is any different to another child.”

The Jones family stayed in Broadstairs and also visited Port Lympne Reserve to see the gorillas there. In a few week’s time they will be heading down the Thames on a river cruise organised by Starlight.

The wish-granting charity allows children with serious and terminal illnesses to experience things that are beyond their wildest dreams. Past experiences have included trips to No. 10 Downing Street and even an African safari.

They operate nationwide and have so far granted 500 wishes to children in Kent alone, with a further 100 planned in the near future.

How you can help

Starlight is entirely dependent on the generosity of people and companies - the foundation does not receive funding from the government or the National Lottery, but there are many ways people can help:

• Sponsor aStarlight wish
• Hold your own fundraising event
• Or attendone ofStarlight's
• Join a running teamor complete a challenge
• Sponsor a friend
• Enlist your companyor schoolto support Starlight
• Donate while you shop online(at no cost to you!!!)
• Recyclewith one of our affiliates
• Make a Christmas donation in lieu of a present. To request a gift card for a friend, pleaseemail Starlight