Battle to help Shropshire's Leon walk tops £42,000
A fundraising campaign to help a little boy walk has raised £42,000 – almost three quarters of the money needed to pay for vital surgery.
The family of three-year-old Leon Thompson said they thought it would take a couple of years to reach their total of £60,000, but now expect to hit it before the end of the year.
It is thanks to a number of big donations, including one anonymous gift of £20,000 and a number of £1,000 pledges.
Leon, who has cerebral palsy, was born with two holes in his heart, and also had a brain haemorrhage and lung disease. After battling back against the odds, his family want to see him walk unaided.
The latest fundraiser will see 12 of Leon's friends and family tackle the Three Peaks Challenge – climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours.
His mother Kasia, from Newport, said: "We're so grateful and thankful. I can't quite believe it as I thought it would take a couple of years but we might reach our total before the end of this year.
"Leon's daddy Charlie, my brother, cousins and their friends are doing the Three Peaks Challenge and hope to raise £5,000. They're currently at more than £2,000."
The family has started a new JustGiving page for the Three Peaks Challenge.
In the description, they say: "This is Leon's best chance at being able to walk, free of pain, either with equipment or unaided. Please help Leon take his first steps."
Leon, born in January 2013, has inspired a wave of fundraising activities and challenges from around the county.
As well as the three peaks challenge, future fundraising events include the Stafford 10k, half marathons and Joe Calzaghe boxing event. For more information visit justgiving.com/fundraising/leonsfirststeps
To donate to the Three Peaks Challenge fund, visit justgiving.com/fundraising /3peakschallengeforleon
