CHILDREN who were given little hope of walking have been kicking footballs thanks to a unique physiotherapy initiative.

Dozens of young people with a range of physical and neurological conditions have been helped by the Footsteps Centre.

The single-storey centre, which is tucked behind the village store in Warborough, near Wallingford, offers children workouts on a system of elastic ropes called the ‘spider’.

Therapists use the ropes to support and manipulate limbs, which when combined with intensive physio helps children who “will never walk” take their first steps.

One of the children who uses the facility, Oscar Scott Towers, had endured 13 general anaesthetics and attended more than 700 medical appointments by the time he was five.

The Wheatley youngster was born with a catalogue of physical and neurological conditions and has damaged kidneys. He has undergone major operations on his heart, cleft palate and one of his legs.

Conventional medicine led his family to believe he would probably never walk. But Oscar’s mum, Hazel Scott Towers, said: “In the space of a few sessions at Footsteps, Oscar was able to kick a ball, step on to a step, bend down to the floor, hold himself in the crawling position, bear weight and much more.

“Being in the spider was an exciting and totally new sensation for him. It gives him independence.

“I have seen other children, whose parents have been told they will never walk, go on to walk with sticks. Footsteps doesn’t promise a miracle, but it does offer hope and that is what we now have for Oscar.”

Footsteps is the only place in the UK to use the spider, which was invented in Poland.

Hollie Ravenhill, nine, from Horspath, was born three weeks prematurely with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck.

When she was a year old, doctors diagnosed her with cerebral palsy as a result of oxygen starvation at birth. She has been coming to Footsteps for four years.

Her mum Lucie said: “Thanks to the centre, Hollie has grown in confidence and is now moving independently by either crawling or walking with sticks – something we thought she would never do.

“When she first stood up in the spider, she was so excited.

“The programme is intensive – the three-week courses mean three hours of physio a day and travelling back and forth from home daily, but we do it because the results are so good.

“I would bring her here every day if I could.”

Footsteps was set up by Warborough-based interior designer Pippa Hoyer Millar in 2004.

Mrs Hoyer Millar’s daughter Minty has cerebral palsy and doctors said she would never walk.

But Ms Hoyer Millar refused to accept their prognosis and researched therapies from around the world before discovering the groundbreaking spider physio in Poland.

After two years of travelling to Poland for the treatment, which dramatically changed Minty’s condition, two Polish physios joined Pippa to set up Footsteps in the UK.

Today Minty, 16, walks, talks and a few weeks ago went paintballing.

There are now four physiotherapists at Footsteps who help families come from across the UK, but the centre’s founder wants to help even more children.

Ms Hoyer Millar said: “Conventional medicine often gives up on these children and without physiotherapy many will not be able to sit, stand, crawl or walk.

“UK families are also often only seeing a physiotherapist monthly, as opposed to the USA, where physiotherapy is usually weekly and in Eastern Europe in places such as Hungary it is often up to three times a week.

“The Footsteps Centre is so popular that it is already nearly fully booked for 2009 with many additional bookings for 2010, but fundraising remains critical to being able to operate.

“No matter how much we try to keep the costs down, not all families can afford private physio and that is why we have set up the Footsteps Foundation – to help more of these special children.”

In the six months since it was set up the foundation has raised more than £55,000. The target is £500,000.

Ms Hoyer Millar said: “The support we are getting locally has been amazing.

“We have been supported by everyone from golf clubs, to Moreton Boxing club and five companies have chosen us as their charity for the year – we feel so grateful.

“Every single penny is going towards helping children whose families cannot get the physiotherapy they need without going privately for it.

“But we need as much help as we can get. We would love to hear from more people willing to help us, whether it is holding events or buying into our charity footsteps scheme.

“One ‘footstep’ at £40 pays for one hour of intensive therapy, £600 enables a child to enjoy a full week’s programme.

“When I walk into Footsteps now and see all the children here I feel such joy.

“I know this treatment works and I want more parents to see the results.”

For more information on the work of Footsteps, call 01865 400895 or visit footstepsfoundation.com bicester@oxfordmail.co.uk