LONG-distance walker David Gibbard, right, raised hundreds of pounds to support his great nephew’s dream to walk.

Last month, Mr Gibbard, 73, walked 40 miles from his home in Courtington Lane, Bloxham, to Greatworth and back, raising £820 for Ronnie Jacob’s appeal.

Mr Gibbard said: “What I’m hoping is that Ronnie’s operation will be a great success and maybe one day he can emulate my walk.”

Ronnie, four, is undergoing intensive physiotherapy after specialist surgery in the US to remove damaged nerves and a vertebra from the bottom of his spine. The youngster, from St Mary’s Road, Adderbury, cannot stand independently and needs a frame to walk, but his parents, Kate and Andrew, say they have already seen improvements.

Members of the community organised cake sales, a fashion show, a bike ride, jumble sales, runs, parachute jumps and a football match, to raise the £60,000 needed for the operation and aftercare. Dad Andrew sold his pride and joy Ford Mustang Bumblebee to raise another £10,000, and a charitable trust is donating the £26,000 needed to reach the target.