TV chef Gino D'Acampo backs disabled Lichfield boy's quest for surgery

TV chef Gino DAcampo has donated almost 10,000 to help a Midland couple fund an operation that could enable their disabled son to walk.

Three-year-old Ollie Dodds, from Lichfield, suffers from spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy which prevents him from walking, standing and even sitting up straight.

After researching the condition, Ollies parents Hayley Smith and James Dodds discovered Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) treatment, which can benefit children with cerebral palsy.

Gino D'Acampo in the Citrus groves of the Amalfi Coast

The 36,000 procedure is not funded by the NHS leaving Hayley, 23, and James, 31, with a huge bill to help transform their sons life.

They launched the Operation Ollie appeal to find 50,000 to pay for the treatment as well as travel costs to St Louis Childrens Hospital in Missouri, USA, which specialises in SDR.

Italian celebrity Gino, a regular on ITVs This Morning, pledged 5,000 to the appeal a few weeks ago and followed it up with a donation of 4,250 earlier this month.

Its very touching, said Hayley.

We have just been amazed by his generosity.

We went to Bolton Food Festival where he was giving a cookery class to thank him in person.

Read the original:
TV chef Gino D'Acampo backs disabled Lichfield boy's quest for surgery