Fundraising day to help seven-year-old Rowley Regis lad walk

Seven-year-old James Downing has Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia, which means the muscles in this legs are too tight, making it hard for him to put his feet flat on the floor to allow him to walk.

His family need to raise the money to pay for a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) operation and after care to enable him to walk unaided.

The family fun day will take place this Saturday in aid of James' Dreams, a charity set up on his behalf.

Fundraiser, Sarah Belton, explained how she got involved with the charity after James, and his twin brother Thomas, were in her daughter's class at school.

She said: "It all started last year when James' mom wanted to start fundraising and my little girl is in his class at school, so I wanted to get involved.

"Me and another mom, Liz Edwards, decided to team up and do a fun day and from there it has just grown.

"James is a lovely lad. He finds it difficult to walk and has a walker at school and is starting to notice now that he cannot do things like other kids. We want to give him a better quality of life."

The fun day will feature bouncy castles, games, crafts, a tombola, face painting, raffle, stalls, mascots and refreshments.

Mrs Belton continued: "There will be lots to do and see, it'll be plenty of fun for all the family.

"Last year we raised just over £2,000 so it would be great if we could get the same amount again - or even more."

James lives in Rowley Regis with his mom and dad Cheryl and Wayne and his two brothers Thomas and Jack.

The event will take place at Rowley Learning Campus in Curral Road, Rowley Regis from 11am to 3pm on June 3 with all money raised going to Just4Children in support of the James’ Dreams cause.

For more information on James’ Dreams visit: www.just4children.org/children-helped-2016/jamess-dream