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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jonathan Coles

Disabled toddler takes first steps after hearing Proclaimers' anthem 'I Would Walk 500 Miles'

A disabled toddler stunned her family by taking her first ever steps - after hearing The Proclaimers song 'I Would Walk 500 Miles'.

Three-year-old Inka Wood suffers from spastic diplegic cerebral palsy which causes stiffness and tightness in the muscles.

It makes walking and standing very difficult and following her diagnosis as an 18-month-old, she was given a frame to help with her movement.

But she still struggled to manage even a few steps - until one day when she heard The Proclaimers hit 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)'.

Inka Wood with her mum, Holly (© SWNS)

The song featuring the lyrics 'I Would Walk 500 Miles' - and the famous tune inspired Inka to take her first ever steps.

Mum Holly, 31, and dad John, 34, were amazed when Inka suddenly got up and started walking after hearing the classic song.

The amazing moment spurred the parents to raise money for treatment which could eventually allow their daughter to walk independently.

It's hoped that Inka, from Portishead, Somerset, will have the surgery funded by the NHS.

But she will also need intensive physiotherapy post-op - which costs around £30,000.

Inka Wood took her first steps after her mum played The Proclaimers' hit 'I Will Walk 500 Miles' (© SWNS)

The family have already raised more than £12,000 and are now asking people to walk 500 miles to raise money - in tribute to the Scottish music duo's impact on their lives.

Holly said: "We fought really hard for Inka to get a walking frame but she didn't do too much with it - as the physiotherapist predicted.

"It was just really difficult to motivate her. But she loves music, so we would play all sorts of songs.

"We then put The Proclaimers on one day - and she just started taking steps. It was really quite amazing.

"It was incredible to watch. I was gobsmacked. She now says: 'Put the Proclaimers on!'.

"I did play it because it's a song about walking. It got her going. It was a really cool moment.

"It was just four or five steps."

Little Inka was born nine weeks prematurely, with scans quickly revealing she had suffered brain damage during birth.

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