A mum-of-three faces a desperate race against time to ensure her disabled six-year-old son receives treatment which could help him walk independently.

The Cleere family have just three months to raise £60,000 to pay for potentially life-changing treatment for little Jack, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy.

Jack, who lives with mum, Melisa, brother, Billy-Ray, and sister, Jessica, in Whitnell Way, Putney, has Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy - a neuromuscular condition - and can only get around with the use of a wheelchair or by leaning on a standing frame, as his legs cannot hold his weight.

He has been given an opportunity to undergo a ground-breaking operation in the United States, which has, in some instances, allowed Cerebral Palsy sufferers to walk independently for the first time - but the bill for the procedure must be paid within three months or he will not be treated.

His 38-year-old mother said: “Jack is happy and lights up the lives of everyone he meets with his courage, but I am painfully aware that he is losing his childhood by missing out on many of the activities his friends are able to do.

She added: “Without this treatment Jack is going to end up being a full time wheelchair user and will miss out on some of the things he is desperate to do, simple things like playing football.

“I know I am lucky in that Jack is not terminally ill and there are lots of people in a worse situation than me but I just want to give my boy the best life possible, I would give anything to see him play football or even just run around with his friends.”

The operation is not currently available on the NHS so Jack’s family are frantically fundraising to send him to world-leading specialists at the Centre for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity in St Louis, Missouri.

Jack’s aunt, Kiely Rashbrook, has already raised £3,000 to help her nephew by jumping off Bognor Pier dressed as a fairy during the recent Bognor Birdman contest.

Also helping the family’s efforts is national charity, Caudwell Children, which supports families caring for sick and disabled children.

To support the Jack Needs Your Help Appeal call Caudwell Children on 01782 600114 or visit justgiving.com/jackneedsyourhelp.