HATS group and friends are raising funds for a young boy named George who will need life changing surgery to give him a better quality of life.

His parents are urging those who can help contribute to make this happen and we at HATS felt compelled to join “George’s journey”. I am sure after you read his story you will all get those running shoes and join the movement.

George arrived 10 weeks early along with his twin sister but unfortunately George's arrival led to him getting brain damage. He was diagnosed at 4 weeks old with PVL (periventricular leukomalacia) which in turn has led to quad cerebral palsy and epilepsy. George is a very happy smiley boy but has limited movement due to his CP.

The lovely doctors and team at Alder Hey Hospital assessed George over the course of a year and have concluded he is a candidate for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery. This will be a gruelling 4-hour operation which involves cutting nerves close to the spinal cord. But hopefully if a success, it will help eliminate the tightness in his legs, help him have a greater range of motion and lead to a better quality of life. After the surgery, intensive physio is required almost daily for a year. Neither the surgery nor physio are available on the NHS. In fact, the surgeon only comes twice a year from America to the UK as no surgeon in the UK can carry out the surgery'.