An appeal to help a Carlton Colville boy's wish come true has received another big boost.

An appeal to help a Carlton Colville boy's wish come true has received another big boost.

More than �17,000 has now been raised in just two months for Owen's Wish2Walk campaign – set up to pay for medical treatment to help three-year-old Owen Baldry walk unaided for the first time.

The appeal is seeking to send Owen – who has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy – to a hospital in St Louis in the United States, where he will undergo an operation which is not available to him on the NHS.

The fund has been boosted by numerous donations recently, including support from flamboyant 1980s singer Boy George, while �1,000 was given by Karpet Kingdom in Lowestoft last week.

Owen's parents, Carl and Sacha Baldry, say they remain in awe of the fantastic support shown by local people.

Mr Baldry, 27, said: 'We are grateful to Roger Harrod and Karpet Kingdom for this very generous donation.'

Mr Harrod, managing director at Karpet Kingdom, said: 'We're delighted to support this very worthy cause.'

The appeal aims to raise �50,000 to send Owen to the St Louis Children's Hospital for the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery, and a host of events have already been organised to boost the fund-raising.

'This weekend we have bag-packing at Morrison's in south Lowestoft on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm,' Mr Baldry said.

An Easter family fun night has also been organised at the Alderman pub from 6pm on Saturday, March 31, and on Good Friday, April 5, a hot cross bun breakfast has been arranged with the family of Blake Barley, from Dereham, who recently had the same operation in America that is planned for Owen.

A host of other events are scheduled in a busy April and May.

To help the Wish2Walk Appeal contact Mr Baldry on 07916 859 358 or visit www.justgiving.com/owenswish2walk

mark.boggis@archant.co.uk