AN eight-year-old boy has the opportunity to undergo life-changing surgery – if his family can raise more than £45,000 to send him to America.

Football-mad Theo Bishop was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was just 14 months old after his parents went to doctors when they noticed he was struggling to sit up.

But now the youngster, who cannot walk without a frame, has the chance to have an operation that will see him walk unaided for the first time.

He has been accepted by a surgery in Missouri, for a procedure known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR).

However, it will cost £45,000 to send him across the Atlantic for a month and pay for the operation and the physiotherapy, which then follows.

His family have launched a fundraising effort knowing the sooner they reach their target the sooner he can have the operation.

Mandy Bishop, Theo’s mum said: “Theo is just a little star. He never lets anything get him down even when things get hard. He just tends to get on with it.”

His mum, is convinced the quality of life the operation will give Theo will make it all worthwhile.

“The surgery will enable Theo to put his feet on the floor and make it easier for him to move around. We heard about it after seeing another child recovering from the surgery in America on the TV,” said Mandy.

So the family contacted the surgeon. Music lover Theo lives with his mum, dad Stuart, sister Jaime-Leigh, 20 and brother Thomas, 14, in Fall Barn Crescent, Rawtenstall.

A series of events are being organised including a sponsored skydive, a zumba marathon and an evening with Elvis impersonator Paul Molloy.

For more information or to donate to ‘Theo’s Big Leap’ appeal call Mandy on 07890374028.