Hero dad from Slimbridge conquers Everest without leaving Gloucestershire

First published in News Last updated by Stuart Rust, reporter covering Dursley, Cam, Sharpness, Slimbridge, Kingscote, Stone, Coaley, Uley, Woodford, North Nibley, Stinchcombe and Cambridge

A HEROIC father from Slimbridge climbed the height of the worlds tallest mountain and raised 21,000 for a life-changing operation for his three-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy.

James Bottger, 37, walked up and down Robinswood Hill, in Gloucester, 75 times, the equivalent distance one would tackle if climbing Mount Everest.

The money he raised means the Bottger family now have the 60,000 they require to travel to America with their daughter for surgery and physiotherapy that may allow her to walk, something she is unable to do due to her condition.

Mr Bottger lives in St John's Road, Slimbridge, with his wife Kate and two daughters Charlotte and four-month old Harriet.

Charlotte was born 10 weeks premature and, as a result of the brain-damage she incurred, was diagnosed as having quadriplegic cerebral palsy at 18 months of age.

Increased spasticity - stiffness in the muscles of the arms legs and backs - has rendered Charlotte incapable of walking, as well as causing a significant amount of pain and a general reduction of motor functions.

St LouisChildrens Hospital in Missouri, America, has been performing a specialist surgery and subsequent course of physiotherapy for the past 20 years with a good record of success.

The Bottgers hope treatment there will give Charlotte the ability to walk, but predominantly that it will reduce the amount of pain she experiences on a day-to-day basis.

The idea for the Everest challenge first came about following a discussion between Mr Bottger and the Superhero Foundation a charity that helps normal people do incredible things to raise money for a charity of their choice.

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Hero dad from Slimbridge conquers Everest without leaving Gloucestershire