The fundraising target to send a young boy with cerebral palsy to America for an operation he desperately needs has been smashed.

Six-year-old Evan Whitton, of The Kingfishers, Silsden, will now be able to travel to the States with his family so he can undergo surgery that will allow him to walk.

The surgery to correct Evan’s spastic diplegia will be carried out at St Louis Children’s Hospital on January 27.

The procedure costs at least £45,000 and so Evan’s family – mum Lynda, dad Andrew, big sister Maya, eight, and little brother Sam, three – set themselves that target to cover the costs.

But the generosity of people in the district was so robust that the Whittons nearly doubled that figure. Around £80,000 has been raised, with more money still to come in.

“You realise what friends you have around you,” said Lynda. “It’s brought the community together, like my grandparents used to say, ‘the way it used to be’.

“People say there’s no community spirit any longer, but everybody’s wanted to be involved and wanted to contribute, even if it was only a little bit.”

Evan’s Big Journey fundraising events started in the summer.

  • Full details in this week's Keighley News