THE CAMPAIGN for Thornbury toddler Ezzy Hodge has reached halfway, amazingly surpassing the £40,000 mark in less than five months.

Three-year-old Ezzy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy last year, with her parents Angela and Matt launching the Ezzy’s Wish to Walk campaign to raise the £80,000 needed for life-changing selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery and therapy in America.

Recent fundraising events for Ezzy has seen more than £900 being raised by a series of Zumba classes in Thornbury, as well as a £500 donation from a production of Starlight Express by the Bristol Music Youth Productions.

The campaign also received £2,000 from Thornbury Round Table at their Dragon’s Den event last month.

Among the many fundraisers lined up for the future include a summer fun day at Thornbury Rugby Club, a charity skydive and a dinner at the Marriott Hotel in Bristol.

Thornbury Squash Club have also said they will be supporting Ezzy with a 24-hour squashathon and a 10-mile walk entitled “Ezzy’s Sunday Stroll” is also being organised in Chipping Sodbury.

Speaking to the Gazette, Angela said: “If you would have said five months ago that we would be halfway by now, I would not have believed you.

“It has happened and I am still in disbelief! The level of support that our campaign has received, not only from the local community, but even further afield is truly remarkable. We cannot thank everyone enough for their kindness.”

A major step forward in recent months is that Ezzy has now been accepted onto the SDR treatment programme.

At the weekend she and her parents joined the families of children from across the country who either pre or post-surgery for a party in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

While there, Ezzy got the chance to meet Dr T.S. Park, the surgeon who will be carrying out the procedure that could see her take her first steps.

Gazette Series:

“This was the first time that Ezzy had been around anyone else in a similar condition to her and she was absolutely fascinated,” said Angela.

“We were worried that she would be nervous around other people in frames, wheelchairs and using walking sticks but she was so excited.

“All these people who have been through the surgery say how impressed they are with Ezzy, how strong she is and that she is doing, and seeing the people who have successfully received the surgery has given us so much encouragement and comfort that we are doing the right thing.”

She added that it was fantastic to meet Dr Park face-to-face, and that he was fantastic around the children, leaving a positive lasting impression with Ezzy.

“It was good for her to become familiar with him,” she said. “He was very kind and approachable and even got up to dance with the children during the party.

“I actually got quite emotional myself before I met him as it suddenly hit me that I would be meeting the man who was going to change our lives forever. It was a very powerful feeling.

“Having this boost just as we hit the halfway mark was perfect timing as we are now ready to push to do what we have done all over again.”