Blackwood family lend helping hand with Newport fundraiser (From Campaign Series)

Blackwood family lend helping hand with Newport fundraiser

1:50pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News

THE family of little Bayli Lippiett are holding a Valentine’s Disco to raise money to help two-year-old Leo Dixon walk.

In 2011 Argus readers helped raise more than £58,300 in a matter of months to help Bayli, four, undertake pioneering surgery to help him walk.

Bayli had a selective dorsal rhizotomy in the USA last July, and now the Blackwood youngster can take 20 steps unaided, kick a football, ride his trike and climb the stairs at home.

His parents Katherine and Darren have decided to help raise the money needed so little Leo can have the same operation.

Leo, from Newport, was born six weeks early, and cannot walk, crawl or sit comfortably.

Last February, Leo underwent a series of tests, and he was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia.

Leo’s mum Kate said: “Katherine and Darren have been amazing, they’ve organised everything, and all the proceeds from tonight’s disco will go to Leo.

“We met Bayli and his parents in Scotland. We were all there at the same time for the boys to have intensive physiotherapy, and we just started chatting.

“They’ve been great, so supportive, and it’s wonderful they are helping Leo like this. They just became attached to him and they wanted him to have the same as Bayli.”

Mrs Lippiett said: “We’ve already sold more than 100 tickets, but people are more than welcome to come along and pay on the door.

“We’re all really looking forward t it. We’ve been through it all and got the tshirt, and we know how hard it is at the beginning of the fundraising challenge.

“That’s why we wanted to help them so much. It’s nice for them to have that support, and it’s nice for us to get to know them, because they are a lovely family.”

The Valentine’s disco is £6 a ticket at the Harlequin Pub in Blackwood at 7pm tonight, and will feature live singers, auction, raffle and food.