FUNDRAISING for a Wimborne boy who needs an operation to help him to learn to walk has reached £50,000.

Jakob Sales, three, who has cerebral palsy, needs a £60,000 operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) which will enable Jakob to take his first steps.

His family including twin brother, Eliott, their mum, Line and dad, Ben, have received huge support from The Dorset Children's Foundation to reach their goal after the fundraising challenge started in August 2015.

Line had to fight back the tears on Monday as the total so far was revealed to her and her sons by the charity team at their base on Christchurch Road in Boscombe.

Patsy Hallmey, co-founder of The Dorset Children's Foundation, says that the massive amount has been collected with a boost from Barclays match-funding scheme which provided £10,000 for the total.

She added: "We are really pleased. Everyone's hard work has come to fruition from people who gave £1 to those who organised the bigger events.

"It shows the power of the people. Donating £1 really can change a child's life."

A date has now been set for Jakob's operation, which cannot be funded by the NHS, which will see the little boy meet the consultant on April 18, ready for SDR the following day.

Line said that it was 'overwhelming' to take a look at Jakob's Just Giving fundraising page and see how close they are now to the final amount, which will pay for the operation and the pre and post-op physiotherapy.

"We've got less than 20-per-cent of the fundraising target to go now. It's amazing. We've been waiting for it for so long so obviously it is a huge relief to get to £50,000 now."

For more information, go to Justgiving.com/Jako65, call the charity on 01202 390011 or search for The Dorset Children's Foundation on Facebook.