THREE years after he survived meningitis, Harry Kirkman from Melksham is facing a new battle, as his family try to raise £60,000 for a life-changing operation in America which will transform the way he lives with cerebral palsy.

The three-year-old has beaten the odds after contracting meningitis in the first four days of his life, but the illness left him with cerebral palsy, and he needs groundbreaking surgery on his leg muscles to have any hope of walking on his own.

Mum Charlotte Deegan, of Crescent Road, is embarking on a fundraising mission to try and raise £60k for the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy operation, not available in the UK on the NHS, which will reduce the spasticity in his legs – giving him the best chance to be able to walk unaided.

Miss Deegan said: “We set up Harry’s Facebook page just under a year ago because we had friends who would often ask us about Harry and we decided to set it up so that people could keep an eye on his progress.

The mum-of-two explained that the family had to send off an application to doctors at the St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri to see whether Harry was eligible for the treatment. After a few short months, they found out he was a match.

“After adding up all the costs, we came up with a figure of £60,000 which covers us flying back and forth plus the operation and intense physio which is needed after the procedure when we get home,” she explained.

Working with the Darren Wright Foundation, Miss Deegan is hoping to raise the funds before July 2016, which is when the family plan to make their way to the US.

“It is quite daunting to think we have to raise that amount of money but with the help of the charity in getting the message out there it has been just brilliant,” she added.

“I’ve had sleepless nights over coming up with fundraising ideas but Harry has just the most contagious smile and he is so determined and nothing will stop him and that’s inspired me to do this.”

During her pregnancy, Miss Deegan was found to carry the group B streptococcus gene where there is a three per cent chance of meningitis being passing onto the newborn through birth. This detail was not included in her medical records.

“We went to Trowbridge to deliver but because of this test result we should have gone to Bath. But we didn’t know as it wasn’t on my record,” she added.

“It was when we got home and Harry wouldn’t sleep and kept crying that we got worried, because he used to scream in a high pitched squeal. I went to check it out with a midwife and they just said I was being an overly worried mum.

It was following a further visit that midwives became concerned and within an hour, Harry was rushed to the RUH.

“We went straight into the hospital and our world came crashing down. We had a really poorly boy who had meningitis and so our fears turned to the worse because no one knew if he would make it through the night. That was a really difficult time and he spent three weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.”

Along with older brother Callum and dad Matthew, the family are hoping that through fundraising events and a social media campaign, they will be able to hit the target.

“The thing I have found hardest is asking people how to hold fundraising events, like a simple coffee morning. I find it hard asking for help, particularly with businesses, because I just think businesses have to make money so why would they want to help us,” she said.

“We’ve been lucky that with the things we have done people have been willing to help out and we just hope that continues.”

To donate, text HARY91 and the amount you would like to donate to 70070 or visit www.justgiving.com/helping-harry