LIKE many toddlers, Santiago Walmsley wants to be just like his big brother and sister.

But it’s about more than just wanting to share their toys and clothes - the little boy, who has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, is desperate to be able to run around with them.

The three-year-old, from Southbourne, has been accepted at Great Ormond Street Hospital for an operation which will change his life and help him to walk unaided.

So his family are now desperately trying to fundraise the £27,000 initial operation costs, plus an additional £15,000 for extensive physiotherapy following the procedure.

Mum Adriana, 40, and dad Andy, 46, are planning to arrange a number of events themselves, while friends and family have pledged support from fundraisers such as the London Marathon and a club night.

Adriana said: "It's £27,000 for the surgery and three weeks of physio, plus hotel accommodation for us for that period. After this we’ll need to pay for a private physio, which is approximately £70 per hour and he will need four one hour sessions a week. One will be NHS, if they have space, but that's just for a few months - he will need physio for life."

The operation, called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, or SDR, will see surgeons remove vertebrae from Santiago's lower spine, and partially cut nerves in a bid to release the tightness in his muscles.

This will result in him have to re-learn how to sit up, stand and walk, as the stiffness in his legs that he currently experiences also helps him to keep upright.

Adriana, who works at JP Morgan, added: "I've been reading a lot about it and we've seen kids that have had it done and the improvements are significant. Other kids have Botox or other methods to relax the muscles but, in Santiago's case, that's not going to fix anything.

"He's so determined and they think he's strong enough to go through the surgery so, for us, we've got to do it."

:: If you can help Santiago, who is being supported on his journey by the Dorset Children's Foundation, visit justgiving.com/thedcf-Santiago or go to facebook.com/Santiagos-journey-to-walk to find out more.