AN Evesham youngster who currently struggles to walk unaided could be taking her first steps in six months time.

Olivia Hancock has cerebral palsy spastic diplegia, caused by being born premature and suffering brain damage, meaning she needs to use a kaye walker or wheelchair to get about.

The eight-year-old from Evesham has been on the waiting list for an operation, which will allow her to walk unaided, and this is now set to take place on Friday (April 24).

She is also at the centre of Olivia's Dream appeal aiming to raise £50,000 to fund the aftercare package required following the selective dorsal rhizotomy operation with the operation itself being funded by the NHS.

So far the fundraising has reached around £10,000 and while the operation is already scheduled to take place the aftercare package doesn't require funding for another four months.

Mum Emma Haynes said she was excited but apprehensive now they had an official date.

"We are both excited but apprehensive as well," she said. "It's going to be such a big change. At the moment she can do things for herself but we're going back to square one to go forward.

"She's determined and happy to be doing it and the physio, so we will get there.

"It's a big operation and they are going into the spine. It will knock out all the tight muscles and she will have to work on all the others that are weak.

"It's going to be a lot of hard work but it's a life long thing we are aiming for."

After the operation Olivia will undergo three physio sessions a week. For the first four months these will be funded by the NHS, but after this time they will fund just one and that is when the money raised for the Tree of Hope charity for Olivia comes into play.

"We have gone over the £10,000 as well now but I am stressing as I won't have time to do fundraisers," added Miss Haynes. "But other people are organising them for me, which is great. We still have a while to go as well."

To support the appeal visit justgiving.com/oliviasdream.