THE family of a Newbridge schoolboy who needs a £60,000 operation to help him walk are celebrating after topping the £20,000 mark in their campaign, Seven-year-old Curtis Bowditch was left profoundly deaf and with cerebral palsy after being born 15 weeks premature.

The cerebral palsy caused a condition called spastic diplegia – stiffness in Curtis’ leg muscles – which means he cannot put his feet flat, and needs a walking frame or wheelchair to get around.

But a pioneering operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) could let Curtis straighten his legs and walk unaided by cutting the nerve fibres in his spine.

But the procedure is not automatically available on the NHS, and Curtis may have to travel to America for treatment at a cost of £60,000.

Curtis’ mother Rachel Booton and stepfather Jason McIlwee have been organising fundraising events since last November, and are now a third of the way to their target with a total of more than £21,000.

Events have included bag packing, raffles, and bingo nights, and there have also been personal donations.

Miss Booton said: “I just can’t believe it, people have been so generous. Curtis is a very happy little boy – I just know he could be happier with this operation.”

Curtis’ family will find out today whether the Ty Isaf Primary School pupil is eligible for SDR on the NHS, and whether he qualifies for treatment in the UK, after a series of tests last month.

On Thursday, Swffryd Social Club will hold a charity artists’ evening in aid of Curtis, with four artists showing their work.

Tickets are £5 and available from Tony Sinclair on 07966 914813.

For more details, visit helpcurtis2walk.weebly.

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