Wolverhampton schoolboy completes 100-mile walk to fund life changing treatment for schoolboy

A schoolboy who completed a 100-mile charity walk despite having an injury has raised enough money to help pay for a life-changing operation.

Alfie Baugh crouches next to Leon Thompson after completing his 100 mile walk challenge to Wolverhampton Wanderers with friends and family, to raise money for Leon's life changing operation.

Alfie Baugh, 11, from Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, has raised more than £6,500 to help fund surgery and after care for five-year-old Leon Thompson, who has cerebral palsy.

The treatment will allow Leon, who lives in Codsall, to walk and live pain-free.

Alfie’s mum, Nicola, said: “I’m really proud of him - he walked through rain, snow and hail. He’s a very selfless person.”

Alfie Baugh pushes Leon Thompson down Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, as he celebrates completing his 100 mile walk challenge with friends and family, to raise money for Leon's life changing operation.

Alfie’s walk started at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool, where Leon will have the surgery, and passed through Warrington, Alderley Edge, Congleton, Stoke and Stafford before finishing at Molineux.

However, four days into the journey Alfie was taken to hospital with exhaustion and a serious leg injury. He was also suffering from a low body temperature caused by the cold temperatures he had to walk through.

“He was really struggling to walk,” said Nicola.

Medical staff advised the youngster to stop, but he insisted on carrying on.

Alfie, a two-time finalist in the Wolverhampton Young Citizen of the Year, came up with an enterprising solution – he borrowed a wheelchair to help him complete the journey.

“They said that if he continued walking he could snap his ligament and the damage would be irreversible,” said Nicola. “That really made me even more proud of him.”

Alfie finished the walk on April 11 and was joined by Leon for the final part of the journey. Later that day the pair attended Wolves’ home match against Derby and got the chance to go onto the pitch before kick-off when the stadium’s compere told the crowd all about their story.

Alfie Baugh(crouching right) next to Leon Thompson, and Leon's mum Kasia Thompson(crouching left), along with friends and family celebrate completing the 100 mile walk challenge to Wolverhampton Wanderers to raise money for Leon's life changing operation.

“He loved it, he’s a big Wolves fan,” Nicola said. “Will Norris gave him a signed Wolves shirt and goalkeeper gloves, which he plans to auction off for charity.”

Alfie decided to help Leon after reading about his story on social media.

“He’s always wanted to raise money for charity and he was looking for something to do,” said Nicola.

The Christchurch C of E Junior School pupil gave up a place on his school trip to Edinburgh to take on the walk – and donated the £430 cost of the trip to Leon’s cause. Although the families did not know each other before, they have now become good friends and have since met up after the walk.

And thanks to Alfie’s donation, Leon’s family have hit their £80,000 target and his operation has been booked for October.