A FUNDRAISING bid to help a football-mad boy has reached the half-way point, much to the delight of his parents.

Lewis Munday, 10, has diplegia cerebral palsy, which means he struggles with stiffness in his legs.

His parents have been fundraising to pay for surgery, known as the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy operation, 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.

However, the surgery is not currently funded on the NHS so Lewis’s parents need to raise £35,000 to pay for the operation and intensive therapy involved afterwards.

Last week the family reached the half-way point and have so far raised £17,657.19, with a charity football game coming up.

As part of a series of planned fundraisers, the Lashings All Stars celebrity football team has agreed to take on Tetbury Town FC on Sunday, September 22.

The all-star team could include ex-England players Tony Cottee, Nigel Winterburn, Neil Webb, Kerry Dixon, Mark Wright and Des Walker, ex-Wales defender Clayton Backmore and ex-Republic of Ireland midfielder Matt Holland.

Lewis’ father Andy Munday, who runs the Kembrey Inn pub, said: “We have already had so many people offering their support.

“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 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.”

For tickets for the charity football event, visit www.tetburytownfc.co.uk or contact Wayne Hillman on 07940 700324 or at wayne@insightmedical.net.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/ lewis-munday1