A family have just two months to raise the £10,000 they desperately need to make their son’s dream of walking unaided for the first time come true.
Lydia and Dean Fairs from Chichester have been fundraising for six-year-old Finley to have his life-changing operation, and have now received the news that they have been waiting for.
The operation will take place at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol on April 24 but this means the pressure is on to raise the rest of the money fast.
Finley has Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, which means the muscles in his legs are painfully tight, preventing him from being able to walk or run around the playground with his friends.
Through their hard work and the support of the local community, the couple have raised more than £13,000 but are still short of the £24,000 target.
The money is being used to enable Finley to undergo a procedure called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) which involves cutting some of the sensory nerve fibres that come from the muscles and enter the spinal cord, allowing Finley to take the first steps he has dreamed of.
Mrs Fairs said: “The help we have received so far has been amazing and we will never be able to thank everybody who has supported us enough.
“Now we have the date of the operation it finally feels real, but it also means the pressure is on for us to get the rest of the money that we need to help our little boy get his dream.”
National charity Caudwell Children, which supports families caring for sick and disabled children, is backing their fight.
Anyone interested in supporting the Fighting For Finley Appeal is asked to call 01782 600114 or to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fightingforfinley.
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