GAZETTE & HERALD: BRAVE youngster Luke Ryan has taken his first steps as he fronts a campaign for Bristol Children's Hospital.

Luke, ten, of Palmer Street, Chippenham, will never be able to play football due to a rare genetic disorder which affects the eyesight, muscles and kidneys.

He was born with Nail-Patella Syndrome, which his mother Caroline, sister Amy, 13, and brother Simon, 16, all suffer from.

Five months ago doctors attempted to straighten Luke's legs by attaching metal cages to them in a technique pioneered by Russian doctors in the 1950s to treat wounded soldiers.

On Thursday Luke took his first steps in the hospital since the cages were attached to his legs.

His dad Shaun, said: "It was brilliant. Luke was really chuffed and my wife and I were quite choked.

"I don't think he could have realised he could ever have his feet on the floor. It was the first time he's ever done it."

Luke's legs are severely twisted and he will face more operations even if the cages prove successful.

"They are trying to twist his feet round and hopefully if the cages come off his feet will be reasonably straight," said Mr Ryan.

"From the age of two they would put his legs in plaster for two weeks and then out of plaster for two weeks and then back in.

"The right leg is still not straight yet and he had never been able to stand up on his feet."

Mr Ryan said Luke's character had brought great strength to the family and he wants to bring as much normality to Luke's life as possible.

"There's no cure for the disease but this will lengthen the time he can walk and when the cages come off the bones in his legs may break anyway.

"How long he will be walking no one can tell us. It can last a few years and then go. He could end up in a wheelchair.

"We are not fools trying to kid ourselves but we want him to lead as normal a life as possible for as long as he can."

Mr Ryan now looks after his family full-time after finishing his job at

plastics company Wavin last year.

"I worked there for ten years and they were brilliant with me. They let me have time off and looked after me by paying me.

"It came to a time when I was spending a lot of time in hospital and they were so helpful," he said.

As part of the Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal, Bristol Children's Hospital hope to raise £110,000 to buy four more titanium and stainless steel frames for children like Luke.

"They were looking for someone to head the appeal and wanted Luke. They thought he was ideal with his age and we said anything we can do to help other children," Mr Ryan said.

"They have done a lot for Luke since he's been in Bristol. They have done so much for my family over the years and we were over the moon to help."

If you want to help in any way call 0800 919 649.