Fundraisers supporting an appeal to help a seven year-old Rowley Regis boy walk again, will hold an event this weekend.

The family fun day 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. The cause is closing in on its £50,000 target to help seven-year-old Rowley Regis boy James Downing walk again.

James has a condition 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 cash to pay for a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) operation and two years of aftercare to enable him to walk unaided.

With most of the target already reached, an operation is scheduled for July 24 but one of the fundraisers, Sarah Belton, said he will need intense physio after. Neither the operation and physio is funded by the NHS. She said:

“James’ dream is to be able to walk and run around just like his brothers and friends. The operation would be life changing for James, providing him with the opportunity to walk unaided and have more independence.

“We started fundraising last year and have already raised just over £43,000. This has been done through donations, support from businesses, our fun days and various other events.

“We have had so much support over the last year and because of this James will be having his operation. However, we still need to reach the final target to ensure that James receives at least two years of intense physio. This will be vital to James' recovery after the operation.”

The fun day will feature bouncy castles, games, crafts, a tombola, face painting, raffle, stalls, mascots and refreshments. For more information on James’ Dreams click here.