The campaign to make Oliver’s Christmas Dream Come True has received the support of hundreds of people – including the city’s three MPs.

Yesterday The Argus launched an appeal to give five-year-old Oliver Poinsignon the chance to run, jump and climb like any other little boy.

Within hours, hundreds of people had pledged to help his family raise £52,000 by Christmas Day to pay for life-changing surgery.

Among them were the city’s three MPs, who called on others to support the cause.

Mike Weatherley, Conservative MP for Hove, said: “I am sure that every parent would do the most that they can to help their children, and Oliver’s parents have so far raised half the money that they need for the surgery, which is a great start.

“If anyone is looking to support a good cause this Christmas, helping Oliver certainly has my backing.”

Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “This is a really important cause at Christmas.

“I wish Oliver and his family the best of luck, and hope the money can be raised to get him the treatment he needs.”

Simon Kirby, Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown, said: “I am delighted to be able to help this worthwhile campaign. I hope at this festive time everyone will feel able to support Oliver.”

Oliver, who lives with his mother in Ashurst, near Steyning, has cerebral palsy and struggles to get around because of extremely tight and painful muscles in his legs.
 

His family are looking to fund the selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) oper- ation to help him walk more easily.

They are already halfway there and The Argus is urging businesses and people across the county to provide the final push to help them hit their target. T

he paper’s charity, The Argus Appeal is donating £5,000 to help get things going.

In a message to The Argus yesterday, Oliver’s father Jean-Marc Poinsignon said: “What you have done is amazing and I wanted to send you a personal message to thank you.

"The support your paper has offered us is beyond expectation. “Your donation will bring us even closer to our target and to Oliver walking unaided for the rest of his life.”

Michael Beard, editor of The Argus and chairman of The Argus Appeal, said: “Our campaign is an example of what a difference a newspaper can make and the real strength we have to make things happen in the communities we serve.

“Mr Poinsignon’s words will make us even more determined to reach the target and allow Oliver to walk unaided for the rest of his life.

Time and again readers of The Argus have proved how much they care. I’m sure this campaign will be no different.”

Anyone interested in making a donation or supporting an event, can contact fundraisers on their Facebook page SDR4Oliver
or visit www.justgiving.com/SDR4Oliver.