A campaign to raise £60,000 for an operation to help a seven-year-old Newbridge boy to walk has raised £17,000.
Curtis Bowditch was born 15 weeks premature, is profoundly deaf and has cerebral palsy.
Due to his cerebral palsy he has to use a walking frame for short distances and use wheelchair for longer distances.
The cerebral palsy has caused spastic diplegia – a muscle stiffness in the legs – which means he cannot put his feet flat and he always has very tight muscles that cause him discomfort and pain.
An operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) would cut nerve fibres in Curtis’ spine and allow him to straighten his legs and walk unaided.
The pioneering procedure costs up to £60,000 and is not automatically available on the NHS. There is no guarantee either that Curtis could have the operation in the UK and would have to fly to America to have it done. The family is currently waiting for an assessment from Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.
Curtis’ mum, Rachel Booton, and stepdad, Jason Mcilwee, launched the Curtis Bowditch Appeal back in November and have so far raised £17,000.
Rachel said: “We did our first fundraising event on November 12 and we are still having money in from that.
“We’ve never done anything like this before and we are getting tonnes of support from everyone and local shops are getting involved.”
The next fundraising event is at Newbridge Rugby Club on Friday January 27 from 7pm until 11.30pm.
Music and entertainment from one of Wales’ top female duos Sister Act along with Marcel Guillio and Nick Lewis.
This is followed on Saturday January 28 with another fundraiser at the Maes Manor in Blackwood between 7.30pm and 12.30am.
Music and entertainment by Madame Gaga, Charmed, Missy B and band Serpentine Parade. Tickets are £5 and available on the night.
For more information about the campaign for Curtis Bowditch, visit helpcurtis2walk.weebly.com or the Facebook group Help Curtis 2 Walk.