WHAT a heart warming story about the 11-year-old boy, Luca Railton, walking without callipers for the first time.

It was only after a huge fundraising exercise that his parents were able to afford the £135,000 cost of an operation in America, which was not available in Britain.

Miracle surgery in Florida managed to save his leg from amputation because he was born with a rare bone disease. In the last few weeks there was the wonderful news that he was at last able to walk without using crutches for the first time.

While his surgery in America achieved miraculous results it was very expensive and we should all be very thankful that in Britain we have the NHS that gives free treatment whatever the cost.

We are so fortunate to have our free NHS in Britain. It is a great comfort that the NHS is always there to give free treatment to everyone in Britain whenever it is needed.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road

Swindon

MORE action is urgently needed to overcome breast cancer. I have a personal interest in tackling this disease and I think my future MP needs to make it a priority because it appears to hit women (and men) regardless of age or health style.

I personally know of one family member who has succumbed to this disease and currently know of 4 other friends who are fighting the good fight. It is something that can be beaten, but that seems to be a lottery too, far to dependant on where one lives.

Every year, around 18 women in my constituency alone die from secondary breast cancer - which is 12,000 women dying from this disease across the UK annually.

We can’t afford not to act.

Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer have launched their new joint Stop Women Dying campaign to encourage parliamentary candidates to become Breast Cancer Ambassadors, if elected this May.

I want my future MP to become a Breast Cancer Ambassador and help to improve local treatments and services for those affected by the disease in our local area and do more to stop women dying from this disease.

I would encourage others to join me and add their support to the campaign by visiting breastcancercampaign.org/election.

MRS SHEILA VANGO

Swindon Rd

Swindon

Charity cake bake

GREAT British Bake Off finalist Kimberley Wilson is urging people across Wiltshire to get baking for the MS Society during May to raise vital funds for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The MS Society estimates there are around 750 people living with MS in Wiltshire. Symptoms of the condition, which attacks the central nervous system, most commonly appear in the 20s and 30s – when families and careers are developing.

They can include problems with mobility and balance, vision, dizziness and fatigue which can come and go or get steadily worse.

This year the charity’s mouth-watering event Cake Break event is aiming to raise more than £300,000 and it’s happening on Friday, May 15. Everyone that takes part and raises money will be in with a chance of winning a baking master class with the Bake Off star herself.

Kimberley said: “A close family member of mine has MS so I’ve witnessed the impact it can have on someone’s day-to-day life.

"It’s an unpredictable condition and it can be scary not to know how you’re going to feel from one day to the next.

“Cake Break is a fun and delicious way to raise money to support the work the MS Society does to help people living with the condition and it’s a great reason to get a bunch of friends together and show off your baking skills.

Jemima Woolgar, Cake Break officer at the MS Society said: “We’d love more people to get involved with Cake Break. All the money raised will go towards funding life-changing MS research, supporting our helpline and providing grants and short breaks for individuals and families affected by MS.”

The MS Society is the leading national charity for people with MS. More than 100,000 people are living with MS in the UK and although the cause is still unknown, it affects almost three times as many women as men.

To sign up for a free fundraising pack or for more information about Cake Break, visit www.cakebreak.org.uk or call 0845 481 1577, lines are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY

Get on your bikes

ENTRIES are now open for the London to Bath Bike Ride which takes place on Sunday October 4. Make your mark in the fight for every heartbeat and support the British Heart Foundation by cycling 113 miles through the glorious English countryside.

For one day, put aside your regular routine and unite with the nation’s heart charity to fight back against coronary heart disease, the UK’s single biggest killer. Join more than 600 cyclists to pedal 113 miles and raise money to help fund the BHF’s essential research into heart disease which could create a better future for so many - from babies born with heart defects, to the millions of adults affected by heart disease.

Andy Coles, Event Organiser for the BHF, said: “Thanks to the 306 cyclists that took part last year, we raised a phenomenal £35,963 to help fund the BHF’s lifesaving work. Without our fundraisers we cannot continue to fight back against heart disease so a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported us.

“Now we’re back in 2015 for and ready to make this year bigger and better. Starting in Twickenham and finishing in the heart of Bath, the ride takes place along quite roads and country lanes and is fully marshalled and signposted with refreshment stops along the way. You even get to cycle through the Historic Village of Lacock in Wiltshire where parts of Harry Potter and the TV drama Cranford were filmed.

Entry fees are £25 and anyone aged 16 or over can take part The entry cost purely covers the cost of running the event and so the BHF is urging supporters to raise as much money as possible to help them continue their fight back against heart disease and fund essential research that will make a difference to the millions living with heart disease around the UK.

Join the fight today and call the events team to register on 0845 130 8663 or visit bhf.org.uk/londontobath. Alternatively, you can email the events team on events@bhf.org.uk

EVENTS TEAM

British Heart Foundation

MARK Cooper is undoubtedly right when he says "our boys will get there" but it is unfortunate that, when they do, it probably won't be with Swindon Town. Several are on loan, several attracting the interest of superior Clubs and seemingly no one to invest sufficiently to keep up with the likes of Bristol City.

Such a shame for all of the supporters who have been there, seen it and suffered for so long.

JOHN LISTER

Swindon