An inspirational youngster with cerebral palsy from Hitchin is looking forward to a fundraising party on Monday.

A meet and greet charity kids disco has been organised for Highover School pupil Jack Gower, in order to help meet a target of £10,000 required to pay for his after-care once he undergoes a life-changing operation this year.

The nine-year-old said: “I was born after a very difficult delivery and I was deprived of oxygen, which led to me being diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy.

“Cerebral palsy affects individuals in lots of different ways and no two people are ever the same.

“The cerebral palsy I have causes the muscles in my legs to be very stiff and tight, which prevents me from walking properly causing me to need to use a walking frame and a wheelchair.

“To help with this my family are fundraising for the Tree of Hope charity to finance the best possible aftercare I can have.

“This will include professional physiotherapy and equipment for my home so I can work very hard to achieve my dream of independent walking just like all my friends.”

Jack’s dad Ben Gower told the Comet: “They will ‘rewire’ the nerves in his back to help his mobility. We are trying to fund raise £10,000 for his post-surgery care and equipment.

“Not only has he got cerebral palsy, he has also had to deal with his younger brother Charlie dying aged nine months old, six years ago. He has a younger brother Noah who is four.

“Jack is a very happy, very loving boy. Nothing ‘fazes’ him. He’s got an amazing attitude. He won’t be beaten and never feels sorry for himself.

“He’s an inspiration, and my wife and I are so proud of him. He can’t wait for the disco.”

A spokesman for Tree of Hope added: “We are proud to be associated with Jack and his brave battle to walk again. He is an inspiration and we hope he has fun at his fundraising disco on Monday.”

Jack Gower’s ‘Meet and Greet Disco’ in aid of Tree of Hope takes place between 3.30pm to 5.30pm on Monday at Fairfield Community Hall in Kipling Crescent, Fairfield Park. There are no tickets and entry on the door is £5 for the first child, £3 for siblings.

For more information visit www.treeofhope.org.uk/jacks-wish-to-walk.