PEDAL power is will push a campaign to get a toddler an operation that could get him walking.

Three-year-old Jack Pike, of Penhill, suffers from spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, which means the muscles in his legs do not work properly.

But a £23,000 operation at Frenchay Hospital could change that.

The family has raised £17,500 so far and Jack’s father Gary, is hoping that cycling a 140-mile round trip with 17 of his friends and family will add at least £3,000 to their total.

Gary, 29, said: “It’s just to get that much closer to the operation. Every parent wants their child to walk.

“This is probably the first big thing I have done for the appeal other than car washing and doing the odd job.

“I can’t wait. I’ll make sure I’m last in. I don’t want to get in knowing people are still going. It’s not finished until everybody crosses the line.”

The operation, known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy which was only available in America until May, has been launched at Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital, but the family need to wait until Jack is four to find out if he can have it on the NHS.

They launched the fundraising campaign last year in case they can’t get the surgery on the NHS.

It is the same procedure that six-year-old Robbie Davies and his family are waiting for and they are still waiting to hear whether the NHS will change its decision not to fund Robbie’s operation.

Gary will be part of a team of 18 cyclists aged between 23 and 66setting off today to travel the 70 miles to Burnham on Sea in Somerset. They will cycle back over the weekend.

Gary is hoping the cycle ride will raise between £3,000 and £5,000 for the appeal.To sponsor Gary or to donate to the appeal search for Tiptoes to Footsteps on Facebook.