PARENTS Barry and Danielle McConnell’s dearest wish is watch their son walk into school with his big brother.

But first they have to raise £72,000 to pay for a life-changing operation that would give their two-year-old son Oliver the best chance of taking his first steps.

Oliver, whose father is a Staff Sergeant at Bicester Garrison, was starved of oxygen at birth and at age 10 months was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Oliver cannot stand independently and can only crawl. It is likely as he gets older the youngster will need a frame or wheelchair to get around.

But specialist surgery involving removing a vertebrae from the bottom of his spine and taking out damaged nerves would give him the best chance of walking independently.

On Saturday, Staff Sgt McConnell’s comrades launched a Bastion to Bicester challenge, at Yates pub, Sheep Street, in which personnel in Afghanistan and locally will attempt to raise £5,000.

Mr and Mrs McConnell, 31 and 29 respectively, who have another son Joshua, six, have pencilled in August this year to travel to St Louis Children’s Hospital, Missouri, in the US, for the surgery.

Oliver would then need up to a year of physiotherapy.

Hairdresser Mrs McConnell said: “When he was diagnosed we said we will fight for him to have a better life.

“Having this operation would change Oliver’s life and our lives. He has to have physio every day and he hates it because he’s in pain.”

Staff Sgt McConnell said: “It would be absolutely amazing for Oliver to be able to walk with his brother on his first day at school.

“Oliver’s so independent and wants to do everything himself. He’s such a trier and is constantly smiling – he’s great to be around.”

The £72,000 will pay for the operation, flights and accommodation in the US, and physiotherapy afterwards.

Over the next four months comrades in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, and Bicester, will run, row or cycle the equivalent of 7,322km between the two places, and hope to raise £5,000.

Staff Sgt McConnell and colleagues will cycle the final leg from Brize Norton to Bicester on July 31. So far £2,377.54 has been raised.

* To help, visit helpoliverwalk.co.uk