Bristol families take turns to raise money for children's operations

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THEY say one good turn deserves another. And now the generosity shown to one family has sparked a domino effect of fundraising in Bristol. Sam Rooke was overwhelmed by donations from strangers when he was raising 50,000 to send his son, Jack, who has cerebral palsy, for an operation to enable him to walk.

So he has now decided to return the favour.

This summer he will walk 130 miles from his house in Hengrove to Aberystwyth to raise money for Jaye Cook, who has cerebral palsy, which makes it impossible for him to walk unaided.

The five-year-old's family is attempting to collect around 75,000 to pay for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery and treatment at Bristol Children's Hospital. The procedure involves a neurosurgeon cutting nerves in the spinal cord to reduce the tightness in youngsters' legs.

Sam's altruistic actions have now inspired Jaye's mother, Melanie Cook, to raise money for another child once Jaye's operation is completed. Melanie, 40, from Kingswood, said Sam had provided not just financial help but also, more importantly, moral support.

She added: "He came round and gave me the encouragement I needed to know that we could do this and it was possible. He was so positive and stopped us feeling negative."

The Cooks have already collected 60,000 of their 75,000 target.

Melanie said: "It's the people you least expect who have helped, like the elderly or people with no money or people you don't know. It's made me realise there are good people in the world. I have been inspired to do something similar to Sam and help raise funds for the next child who needs an operation after Jaye."

There is no date arranged for Jaye's operation but his family are hoping he will undergo the life-changing treatment before Christmas. Sam's five-year-old son Jack underwent SDR last year and has now taken his first unaided steps.

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Bristol families take turns to raise money for children's operations