A FAMILY is over halfway towards an ambitious fundraising target to help a youngster walk as their efforts continue.

Marcus McCarthy, ten, of Kursaal Way, Southend, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth and has grown up using a walking frame.

After undergoing multiple major spinal operations over the course of two years, Marcus is now in the middle of intensive physiotherapy in a bid to walk unaided.

Recently, Marcus has made a significant progress by moving from tripod crutches onto one-pod crutches for the first time.

Proud mum Scarlett McCarthy, 30, said: “Marcus is doing fantastically. He is now walking with single pod crutches for the first time so he’s getting his independence.

“He would never have been able to walk with those if it wasn’t for the operations and the physio.”

The youngster, who has a twin brother called Jacob, has undergone a huge amount of expensive physiotherapy from NHS Lighthouse and Kids Physio Works and the fundraising is to help him continue his hard work.

Last February, the Echo told how the family were trying to raise £23,000 for his physiotherapy through the Move a Mountain 4 Marcus appeal and they are now over halfway, having raised more than £12,000.

Family friend Kit Allum, 28, is the latest fundraiser to help them hit their target.

Kit, of Wilson Road, Southend, said: “I know him through a friend of the family and I think he’s absolutely amazing.

“He always has a smile on his face and he is never fazed by his disability so I wanted to help out in any way I could.”

Kit is running a the Hackney half-marathon on April 30 and is appealing for donations to Marcus’s campaign to help spur him on.

“I had been doing a lot of exercise at the start of 2017 and so decided I could put it to good use and run an event for Marcus.

“The training is going OK. This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this but I’m feeling really confident.

“I would urge anyone to get involved and help Marcus as much as we can.

“It really is a fantastic cause and the end result will be amazing if we can get him there.”

Mrs McCarthy added: “It’s stressful to do a fundraising campaign on top of everything else so when somebody steps up, it really means a lot.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/moveamountain4Marcus