A FAMILY hoping to send their son to America for a life-changing operation are almost at the halfway mark in a cash appeal.

Four-year-old Ronnie Jacob’s family are in a race against time to raise £60,000 for the operation and aftercare.

The Christopher Rawlings School pupil has spastic cerebral palsy, a physical disability that means he cannot stand without help.

But it can be cured by a procedure called selective dorsal rhizotomy.

A charity football match between Ronnie’s Team and Sky Sports Team last Friday helped boost the appeal to about £27,000.

The match, at Banbury United FC’s ground, was won 4-1 by the Sky Sports team, which included Sky presenter Mike Wedderburn, who lives near Banbury, and former Manchester City player Gary Owen.

Tickets and proceeds from an auction, which included signed shirts from the England squad, raised about £7,000.

Ronnie’s parents Katie, 29, and Andrew, 43, need to raise £45,000 to pay for the operation in St Louis Children’s Hospital, Missouri, which has been booked for May 24.

Then a further £15,000 to pay for intensive daily physiotherapy.

Hairdresser Mrs Jacob, 29, of St Mary’s Road, Adderbury, said: “We want to thank everyone so much for supporting Ronnie’s Journey so far. We still have a long way to go, so any help or donations will be greatly received.”

Mr Jacob recently sold his pride and joy, a Ford Mustang Bumblebee with its Badboy number plate “BAD 300Y” for £10,000, which has been added to the total.

A host of other fundraising events are planned over the coming months including a street collection in Banbury on Saturday, and in Kidlington on March 26.

Volunteers will be bag packing at Sainsbury’s in Oxford Road, Banbury, on April 16, and there will be an Easter Ball at Wroxton College, Wroxton, on April 23.

See ronniesjourney.co.uk or call 07789 658813.