The Chippenham community has raised more than £8,700 for brave eight-year-old Kitty-Boo Cox.

Donations have been pouring in over the past 10 weeks, after the Gazette announced Kitty was to have a life-changing operation.

It is hoped this will allow the Charter School pupil, who has cerebral palsy, to walk unaided for the first time. But there is still a long way to go to meet the target of £50,000, the cost of Kitty’s physiotherapy after her operation in January.

Ronnie Billing, 49, whose three-year-old son Aaron attends Charter’s after-school club Woody’s Den, boosted funds by £550 last Wednesday when he lopped off his 17-inch ponytail and donated it to the Little Princess Trust for children with cancer.

His wife Claire, of Oate Hill, Chippenham, said: “He’s had long hair for as long as I’ve known him. He wanted to do it for Kitty. He’s starting to grow it back but says when it gets long enough he’ll do it again.”

Kitty’s aunt, Sarah Ferris, who manages Woody’s Den, said: “Aaron wasn’t very impressed to see his dad lose all his hair, but Kitty couldn’t stop smiling.”

A raffle held there on the same day raised nearly £1,050 and karaoke at the Consti Club over the Chippenham Winter Festival weekend raised £350.

Kitty’s mum, Claire Winks, 37, of Barrow Green, Chippenham, said: “We’re absolutely gobsmacked. I just want a date for the operation confirmed – she’s still pencilled in for mid-January.”

The Kingfisher on Hungerdown Lane held a raffle on Sunday for a meat hamper donated by Walter Rose in Devizes, and raised £300.

Donate at www.justgiving. com/letsgetkittywalking