A CAMPAIGN has been set up to raise £40,000 for a two-year-old girl with a form of cerebral palsy.

Imogen Ashwell-Rice from Portskewett was born 11 weeks early and, as a result, suffers from spastic diplegia.

Though Imogen's cognitive function and speech is

unaffected, spasticity in her legs causes a delay in motor function, causing pain and additional complications as she grows.

Imogen undergoes daily physiotherapy with the aim of stretching her

muscles and improving her condition.

As Imogen gets bigger, her bones grow but her muscles do not, causing contractures and pain.

A campaign has been set up to raise £40,000 for the Tree of Hope charity to help Imogen receive Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) treatment, enabling her to walk unaided.

The surgery involves entering the spinal cord via a vertebrae and cutting the portion that

carries messages from the brain to the legs. The procedure will involve a large amount of rehab for Imogen.

Imogen's mother, Catherine Ashwell-Rice, said: "We

started the campaign on Thursday night and we've already had such a great response, not just from individuals, but from businesses too.

"They have been incredibly generous and have offered

raffle prizes to raise money for the operation.

"Imogen is adorable, and that's not me being biased. She's so happy and delightful, and has such a good level of speech."

Imogen is the youngest of eight

siblings.

A year ago,

Monmouth residents united to raise £40,000 for a similar operation for seven-year-old Chase Vaughan, who also has cerebral palsy.

To donate to

helpimogenwalk