Easter event raises cash for Lewis’s op (From Swindon Advertiser)

Easter event raises cash for Lewis’s op

5:00pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Matthew Edwards

AN EASTER extravaganza is being held to raise money to help a young boy walk unaided.

Nine-year-old Lewis Munday has diplegia cerebral palsy, which means he struggles with stiffness in his legs and cannot walk without the help of a support called a Kaye walker.

His parents need to raise £35,000 for an operation to help him walk because the operation is not funded on the NHS.

The surgery, known as selective dorsalrhizotomy, is a complex neurosurgical technique which targets nerves in the spine to treat spasticity in the lower limbs. The technique used at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, is the same as that developed in America and takes up to seven hours.

Lewis’s parents Andy Munday and Louise Ponting joined their son at Frenchay Hospital on Friday where they were told he was through to the next stage of the process.

However, the family needs to raise £35,000 to pay for the operation and the intensive therapy which is involved for several months afterwards.

So far, the family has raised £3,844 and have lots of events planned to reach their target, including a family fun day to be held at the Kembrey Inn Pub, in Kembrey Park, where Andy is the manager.

The day will take place on Easter Sunday, March 31, from midday, and will include face-painting, an Easter egg hunt and a bouncy castle.

Andy has been overwhelmed by the support that has already been shown and hopes to use the pub as a focal point of fundraising.

He said: “Lewis has been lucky, he is still able to do a lot of things, but it would mean so much to him if he could have this operation.

“We want all the events that we do to reflect Lewis’s fun and energetic personality.

“We wanted to start raising the money straight away and then if consultants decide Lewis is not appropriate for the surgery or the NHS can fund it, the money will go to the charity Tree Of Hope, which helps children who need special treatment.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com /lewis-munday1 or if you can help out on the day contact Andy on 01793 500680.