A young girl is taking on a marathon challenge with her twin brother who has cerebral palsy so he can have an operation and be able to run as fast as her.
Tommy Monument suffers significant pain as a result of his condition and is reliant on a wheelchair and frame.
Because his symptoms are so severe he does not qualify for free surgery on the NHS.
So three-year-old Tommy and devoted twin Eva are covering a mile a day throughout October to raise cash for his life-changing op.
Proud mum Alex, 34, said: “The dream would be them being able to walk or run together. He’s really excited and already saying: ‘I will be able to run as fast as Eva’.”
The twins were born prematurely and Tommy had to undergo surgery at just a few days old. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs.
Alex and her husband Sam, 41, who works in fire protection, found it difficult watching Eva hit milestones Tommy was missing.
On the scale measuring the severity of cerebral palsy, where five is the highest, Tommy is rated a four.
He is ineligible for a selective dorsal rhizotomy op on the NHS, only offered to kids in the two to three bracket.
The parents of Wroxham, Norfolk, are determined to give their son the best chance of walking pain-free.
Alex said: “The surgery will eliminate the majority of the spasticity in Tommy’s legs.
“The physiotherapist has told us Tommy will be able to take independent steps.”
At the start of October the family launched a fundraising campaign for an £80,000 private operation at Portland Hospital in London and have hit £38,000 so far.
“They are a brilliant team, Eva is Tommy’s biggest cheerleader,” said Alex.
- To donate visit www.just giving.com/campaign/Team TommyforSDR
