A CAMPAIGN to raise £40,000 to help a Cwmbran youngster walk unaided is nearing the halfway point in just three months.

The local community has rallied round to raise almost £16,000 for seven-year-old Ethan Jolosa  who has Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy.

The condition means the muscles in the sports mad youngster’s legs are extremely tight and painful forcing him to walk on the tips of his toes.

The Pontnewydd Primary School pupil is eligible for a pioneering operation in Bristol and followup treatment costing £40,000 that will relax his leg muscles allowing him to walk flatfooted, but the Welsh Government will not fund it.

In May his mum Leah Jolosa, 27, took on the mammoth task of raising the money, and with the help of local people she is well on her way.

In the past three months she has organised band nights, raffles, bucket collections and sponsored walks.

Local businesses including We Fight Any Claim, General Dynamics and Liberata UK LTD have donated hundreds of pounds and they have received anonymous donations.

Miss Jolosa said: "The response of the community has been really really good, they’ve been brilliant and I can’t thank people enough."

The teaching assistant has more events planned including an under 10s party at Cheeky Moneys play centre in Cwmbran on August 26 and an awareness night at the Crows Nest at 8pm the same night .

Several people are running the Cardiff Half Marathon to raise funds and a spiritualist night is also being planned.

Details can be viewed at on the Facebook page Ethan’s Wish to Walk.

To make a donation visit justgiving.com/Ethan-jolosa or text BHNP87 followed by the amount to 70070.