A little boy is on his way to the United States for a ground-breaking operation to enable him to walk – thanks to Wandsworth Guardian readers.

It was feared six-year-old Putney schoolboy Jack Cleere, who suffers from cerebal palsy, would miss out on the life-changing procedure after his family revealed they were £38,000 short of the £60,000 total.

However, following an appeal in the Wandsworth Guardian on December 30, the family were inundated with donations and they were able to meet the payment before the January 10 deadline.

Jack’s mother revealed they received an incredible £30,000 in just one week from generous donors following the article.

Mum Melissa, of Whitenell Way, Putney, said: “It is amazing, we had such a great response from the public. It is just incredible, it feels like I have won the lottery. We are so thankful for the coverage the Wandsworth Guardian gave us and Jack.

“The amount of money raised in the week after the article was published was astonishing.

“We cannot thank people enough. It will change his life and his future.”

Jack’s family feared the pioneering selective dorsal rhizotomy operation, which involves cutting some of the nerves between the muscles and the spinal cord, would have to be cancelled due to a lack of funds.

But on Saturday, following the huge fundraising drive, Melissa and Jack will fly to St Louis, Missouri, for a five-week stay.

The youngster will have the procedure on January 25 and will then endure five weeks of post-operative phsyiotherapy, where he will learn to walk before returning to the UK.

According to Miss Rashbrook, Jack’s mum, the operation has a 100 per cent success rate and doctors expect Jack to be able to walk unaided indoors, while outdoors he is expected to be able to walk with one or two crutches.

Jack has been supported by children’s charity Caudwell Children, which provides specialist equipment, treatment and therapies for sick and disabled children.

Ben Sutcliffe, PR manager for Caudwell Children, said: “The support for Jack’s appeal has been truly heart-warming – we have been inundated with kind people who want to help in any way they can.”

The family still need to raise £6,000 to pay for Jack’s physiotherapy back in the UK.

A Legends benefit night with ex-Chelsea FC defender Ron Chopper Harris is being held at the Northumberland Arms pub, Putney, on January 28.

To support Jack’s appeal donate online at justgiving.

com/jackneedsyourhelp or by calling 01782 600114.