SOME 40 walkers braved blisters and overcast weather conditions to raise around £15,000 for a Yorkley boy in desperate need of an electric wheelchair.

Chairman of Yorkley AFC Mark Hudson, who suffers with Parkinson’s, battled through an 18.2-mile walk for five-year-old Connor Ventris-Field who suffers with cerebral palsy.

The family and friends of Connor, whose father Dave played for the club, walked from Gloucester Tesco to the Nags Head in Yorkley, where there was a barbecue awaiting.

Mark said: “Our target to raise £10,000 for Connor’s Innowalk, which will enable him to walk for the first time, was kick-started by Cafe René in Gloucester on carnival day.

“By the time we started the walk we had already achieved this and finished with a total so far of around £15,000.

“It was going to be a big challenge for myself, who has a great friendship with Connor, because 18 months ago I was diagnosed with a rare progressive form of Parkinson’s disease. I had to do this (walk) while I was still able to.

“In just three months of fundraising, the response has been overwhelming with lots of people pledging hundreds of pounds.

“We crossed the line around 5pm with both myself and Dave pushing Connor over the line in his pushchair and welcomed home by so many people. It was an amazing day. The walkers were also met on the line by four people who had chosen to run the distance headed by Yorkley AFC secretary Mike Edwards and Paul and Danny Hudson with Luke Collins.

“A very emotional end came when I presented the family with a cheque for enough funds to cover the cost of the Innowalk.

“There are a lot of funds still to be collected and many thanks must go to all people who sponsored us.”

Anybody who still wishes to donate can do so by visiting www.crowdfunding.justgiving.com/innowalk4connor2