A WIMBORNE boy who has cerebral palsy leaving him unable to walk has raised the £65,000 needed for a life-changing leg operation.

Jakob Sales, three, has been supported by his twin brother, Eliott, mum, Line and dad, Ben, to collect the money for the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) operation, which will be carried out in America.

The family launched their campaign in August last year to get Jakob enough cash donations for the operation and the pre and post-operation physiotherapy he requires to get out of his wheelchair. He will now be able to travel to USA on April 19 safe in the knowledge that the procedure is fully paid for after it was not available on the NHS.

Patrick Michael, owner of Patrick's Restaurant, Bar and Event Catering, was able to hand over the last part of the £65,000 total following a charity golf day organised by the company.

Jakob's mum, Line, said: "This campaign has shown us that everyone who helped in a big or small way really has become part of Jakob’s future.

"When Jakob is older, he will be able to look back and say people really do care."

The Dorset Children's Foundation, which is based in Boscombe, have led the fundraising campaign, with Patsy Hallmey from the charity asking people to donate £1 in their three shops, via text or on the Just Giving page online.

People from across the county got involved in organising events in aid of Jakob including The Olive Branch in Wimborne, several supermarket bag packs and a charity car boot sale and two golf days.

Two six-year-old friends, Amelia Sanger from Ensbury Park and Poppy Puncheon from Highcliffe, who walked six miles from Hengistbury Head to Bournemouth Pier to raise money and staff from Cranborne Garden Centre Cafe gave up their tips.

Pupils from Colehill First School performed Christmas carols and residents donated to The Dorset Children's Foundation to be passed onto Jakob after thieves broke into their Southbourne branch. Meanwhile, Avenue Estates organised a football tournament featuring 16 teams at the Littledown Centre and the congregation from Boscombe Baptist Church put their hands in their pockets to help Jakob.