Ezzy Hodge is preparing to fly to America for a second bout of surgery to help her walk.

Five-year-old Ezzy, from Thornbury, will fly to St Louis on Thursday ahead of the operation on Thursday after £20,000 was raised to pay for it.

Numerous charity events have been held including a picnic at Old Down Country Park.

Regular supporters Darren Sims, of Daz’s Rock 4 Charity, and Sandra Davies, landlady of The Swan pub, are among those to have helped raise money.

Ezzy was born more than two months early and diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was two years old.

This will be the second time she has had surgery in America. Ezzy previously visited St Louis in September 2017 after a campaign to raise £80,000 to pay for the cost of the surgery.

Ezzy has been undergoing regular physio and strength and conditioning since then to enable her to move more but mum Angela recently noticed a problem with her calf muscle.

Her left foot is rotating inwards and the muscle is developing abnormally, causing Ezzy much discomfort.

After seeking medical advice they were told Ezzy would need surgery to correct her calf muscle and lengthen her hamstring or risk losing the ability to walk independently.

Shortly afterwords she took her first steps with the aid of supportive leg splints.

Angela said: “We have been truly blessed to receive such love and generosity from everyone who has been involved to get to our target to help our little girl. You will always be in our hearts and we are always forever grateful to each and everyone of you.”

Support Ezzy at

bit.ly/2QLGPfD