A four-year-old Banstead boy will be flying to the USA tomorrow for life-changing surgery after his family raised £45,000 in just six months.

Brave Joe Elliott, who started school this month, suffers with cerebral palsy and has been forced to use a wheelchair as the disease continues to tighten his muscles limiting his mobility and leaving him in constant pain.

Joe’s mum, Lisa Lloyd, said: "He’s in more discomfort at the moment because we have had to take him off his medication in preparation for the operation, but he is coping with school very well."

Fresh hope came from a doctor in the US who selected Joe for life changing spinal surgery, but with a £45,000 price tag his family had a mountain to climb.

Their appeal was highlighted in this newspaper in March and they have worked tirelessly to raise the funds by holding charity events including an Easter fun day, pamper nights, charity football matches and a boxing evening.

Miss Lloyd said: "Thank you doesn’t seem enough for everything that people have done, the kind words of support, the events that have been arranged by strangers, the donations and for people turning up to events and supporting us.

"I really can’t thank everyone enough."

Joe and his family, including 2-year-old sister Eliza, will fly to St Louis in Missouri on Friday, September 23, for four weeks where Joe will undergo three operations to loosen his hamstrings and heel cords, and spinal surgery to improve his stability and balance which may one day mean he can walk unaided.

She said: "More and more children who are having the operation are having brilliant effects and it’s just such a huge success.

"He will never be in pain anymore or wake up in the middle of the night screaming with cramps.

"We are looking forward to him being able to wiggle his toes for the first time."

On returning to the UK, Joe will face a gruelling year-long rehabilitation program, with any money now raised going toward his physiotherapy.

She said: "It’s going to be quite an intensive program, at least five hours a week plus whatever else we can do.

"But it’s not just the physical but the mental change.

"If you are in constant discomfort you are just tired and miserable.

"I think he will be so much happier."

To make a donation visit joesjourney.co.uk