MEMBERS of the public are being asked to put their best feet forward in a sponsored walk to help a disabled youngster.

Five-year-old Charlie Dawson, a pupil at Robert Le Kyng School, suffers from the rare condition paroxysmal non-kinesogenic choreoathetosis.

Charlie's condition causes painful cramp attacks throughout his body and also affects his balance, speech and co-ordination to such an extent that he cannot walk unaided.

Medical experts from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London know of only one other person in the United Kingdom who lives with the same condition.

Charlie's parents Jackie, 36, and Kevin, 39, are eager to raise £750 to buy a specially adapted tricycle which would help Charlie develop his muscular co-ordination and strength.

They are organising a sponsored 12-mile walk at 12 noon on Sunday, October 29 from the Pinehurst People's Centre around Coate Water and back again.

Jackie said that 29 people are expected to take part in the charity event.

She said: "Anyone is welcome to come along and take part in the walk. We need as many people to help out as possible, either by walking or providing sponsorship money.

"Charlie, like any other child, is really keen to have a bike and he has been pestering us for about two years. We tried him out on one of these specially designed bikes and he loved it.

"Having a bike like this would go a long way towards improving Charlie's quality of life."

Since the launch of the Charlie Dawson appeal, more than £3,000 has been raised through fundraising events including a 26-mile sponsored cycle ride, a head shave and a Halloween fancy dress day at Nationwide Building Society.

The money has been used to fund specialist computer equipment to help him with his studies, a wheelchair and pushchair.

Anyone who would like to donate to the appeal should contact the appeal treasurer at 4 Belle Vue Road, Swindon SN1 3HQ.