SPRINGDALE — A wish came true Friday for one Southwest Junior High School student.

Cameron Wickham, his parents and his three brothers are headed to Orlando, Fla., for a six-night, all-expenses paid trip to Disney World.

The Make a Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions, provided the trip after Southwest Junior High students raised $5,000 last school year.

Wickham, 14, was 4 when he was first diagnosed with a brain tumor. Since then he has had six surgeries and two years of chemotherapy, said his mother, Johannah Wilson. His last surgery was in October 2011.

“He doesn’t let sickness keep him down,” Wilson said. “He’s real special.”

News of the trip was kept secret from Wickham until Friday afternoon, when he was ushered into the school gym for a surprise assembly.

About 900 of his fellow students, some dressed as Disney characters, cheered when Wickham entered the gym with his family. They held helium balloons and large signs reading, “Congratulations, your wish has been granted” and “Welcome to Disney World, 1160 miles left.”

Leah Murphy, a foundation official, greeted Wickham at center court.

“Cameron, your wish is coming true, you’re going to Disney World,” Murphy said.

Wilson thanked the students, calling their support of her son “overwhelming.”

“I know a lot of people probably didn’t have money to give, but donated anyway,” Wilson said. “I appreciate everything that’s been done.”

Last fall, Southwest Junior High’s chapter of the National Junior Honor Society spearheaded a $5,000 fundraising effort to benefit the Make a Wish Foundation. That’s the total donation needed from a sponsor to trigger a wish from the foundation.

The school took on numerous activities to raise the money, said Debbie Matteri, a special education teacher and sponsor of the Junior Honor Society chapter.

“A powder puff football game was the first project,” Matteri said. “We had a dodge ball game between students and faculty. We sold donuts. We wrapped presents.”

A change drive, where each student was challenged to donate $1.41, put their campaign over the top, Matteri said.

Principal Brice Wagner admitted he was skeptical when he heard about the group’s fundraising goal.

“I really didn’t think there was any way they would do that, within the time frame we had,” Wagner said. “We have a great student body. The majority of our kids are great kids and have great character. They really can get behind a cause and really work.”

Lydia Huck, a Har-Ber High School sophomore who was president of Southwest’s Honor Society last year, was at Friday’s assembly. She said students put a lot of hard work into the fundraising effort.

“It was a life-changing moment to see (Wickham) walk in here, and with everyone cheering,” Huck said.

Wickham didn’t speak at the assembly, but said afterward he was “really shocked” by the whole event. He said he’s never been to Florida and has never been on a plane.

Asked what made him wish for a trip to Disney World, he said, “All the rides.”

Wickham has missed most of the school year because of his illness, but he has served as manager of the school’s football team.

After the assembly, many students crowded around him outside to take pictures with him.

The family will leave for Orlando on Nov. 17. Besides Disney World, they also plan to visit Sea World and Universal Studios.