A Weston-super-Mare mother, who is fundraising for an operation to help her two-year-old son to walk, says she is ‘gutted’ the target has had to be increased.

Jacob Baird, of Milton, has cerebral palsy and his legs spasm uncontrollably, meaning he is unable to walk.

His mum Nicola launched a fundraising campaign in February to raise £65,000 so Jacob could fly to the United States for an operation.

This procedure, which is called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) and not available on the NHS, would be life-changing for the toddler, who would be able to take his first steps after intensive physiotherapy.

Their fundraising efforts have so far been successful – after the fun day last weekend the total raised has reached more than £50,000.

But the family first anticipated the surgery and subsequent physiotherapy would cost £65,000 – and now after prices rose the family had to put the target up to £75,000.

Mrs Baird told the Mercury she was ‘gutted and exhausted’ on hearing the news.

She said: “Once I received the email from Jacob’s physiotherapist advising of her price increase from September we were worried as we knew straight away the target we set was nowhere near enough as it equates to an additional £5,000 we hadn’t originally budgeted for.

“Having also spoken to other SDR parents we also found out we’d need physiotherapy equipment at home like parallel bars, a treadmill and benches, so Jacob could continue his therapy at home.

“All of this wasn’t included in our original target. So we’ve been left with no option other than to increase it.

“We are devastated we’ve had to do this and move the goalposts, we are exhausted as a family and another £10,000 is a huge amount of money but we will do it, we have no choice.”

To find out more about the fundraising or to donate, visit www.jacobsjourney.org.uk