A YOUNGSTER'S hope of walking again is one step closer after residents in Freshbrook raised thousands of pounds to go towards a life-changing operation.

Mum and dad Charlotte and Stephen Kelly launched an appeal to raise £50,000 for an operation for two-year-old Esme, who was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

Her condition means without the surgery, which is not available on the NHS, she would likely need a wheel chair for the rest of her life.

Raffles, craft stalls, tombola, and sponsored head shaves at The Windmill pub in Freshbrook have now managed to raise more than £3,500.

Charlotte, from Freshbrook, said: “We’re doing really well. They’ve been some amazingly generous people have just donated cash. We’ve had some very large donations. Even from people we don’t know personally, just regulars from the pub.

“We were so well supported, and people had such lovely words to say. The team at The Windmill were amazing. We never imagined we would get that much. Some will pay for the operation, the rest will be for the physio afterwards, so it’s a massive milestone to celebrate.

“We’ve still got a way to go. It’s going to take a while but we’re in it for the long haul. I’m doing a skydive in three weeks’ time and my husband is doing the Three Peaks Challenge and a half-marathon.”

Grandad Terry Kelly, 68, who is doing a 25k sponsored walk around Lydiard Fields, thanked the response from local people and friends and family. “All the emergency services have been here and they’ve been absolutely fantastic. The kids have loved it, looking at the fire engines and sitting on the motorbikes.

“It’s been good for the community as well. It’s bought them all together. I’d like to thank each one for coming.”

Friend Steve Ball, from Freshbrook, who had his chest and back waxed to raise extra funds, said: “You know it’s going to hurt, but I would recommend it. If you going to go and sunbathe later, it will be great. I’m absolutely glad I did it.

“You tell me what that was compared to what Esme was going to go through, not being able to walk, being able to dance, not being able to play with her sister. The pain means nothing.”

The hair shaved from volunteers will be donated to the Little Princess Trust to make wigs cancer patients.