Shropshire op girl Evie-Lou in walk to help sister

It will be a massive challenge for the seven-year-old, who just two years ago underwent a life-changing operation in America to ease the symptoms of her cerebral palsy.

Before the operation she had to use a wheelchair to get around. Now she is able to walk short distances with the aid of special sticks and continues to have intensive physiotherapy to continue to improve her mobility.

Now Evie-Lou is fundraising so that her sister, nine-year-old Emilie, who also has the condition, can have the same operation.

Her challenge has touched the hearts of many, already breaking through the £2,000 barrier with her fundraising. But the family need to raise £60,000 for the operation.

Saturday will see Evie-Lou and family, friends and supporters, take part in the mile-long sponsored walk from the Dam at Lake Vyrnwy, from 11am, to raise funds for the Emilie's Leap of Faith fund.

Each child that participates in the sponsored walk will receive a bottle of water and a snack at the half-mile rest, and an ice cream at the cafe when they have finished – as well as a medal and a certificate.

Their mother Donna Harrington, from Llangynog, said: "Emilie's mobility has always been better than Evie's and so Evie really needed the operation first.

"When we were talking about launching an appeal for Emilie, Evie said 'what can I do to raise money?'.She really wants Emilie to benefit.

"So we are going to organise a mile sponsored walk at Lake Vyrnwy on February 28.

"Some of the children's friends are going to come and walk with Evie and we hope lots of other people will come too.

"Although Emilie can walk, she has to walk on her tiptoes. And because of her balance she can't ride a bike, only a trike. The surgeon who did Evie's operation says that Emile would walk absolutely normally with the operation.

"At a recent appointment for Emilie we were told that as she gets older her mobility will suffer, possibly as she becomes a teenager. But if she has the operation Evie had, then her mobility will be so much better.

"She loves swimming and sport and having the treatment would mean she could do even better than she does now. I wouldn't forgive myself if we didn't raise the money so she could have the operation and then I had to watch her get worse."

More details are available on the Emilie's Leap of Faith Facebook page or www.just giving.com/evie1mileforemiliefaith/