A TEAM of soldiers took part in a sponsored ride to help send a little boy to America for a life-changing operation.

Lance Corporal Stuart McCarville and Warrant Officer Kevin Bennett did the ride at Sainsbury’s in Kidlington on Saturday for young Oliver McDonnell.

The Ambrosden two-year-old was starved of oxygen at birth and diagnosed with cerebral palsy aged 10 months, leaving him unable to stand independently and only able to crawl.

Parents Barry and Danielle McConnell this year launched a £72,000 appeal for specialist surgery at St Louis Children’s Hospital, Missouri, in August, which could help him walk.

Colleagues of Mr McDonnell, Staff Sergeant at Bicester Garrison, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan and the town, have been running, rowing and cycling the equivalent of 7,322km between the two places.

About £37,000 has been raised so far and Staff Sgt McConnell will be joined by colleagues to cycle the final leg from Brize Norton to Bicester on July 31.

Sgt Paul Jones said: “On Saturday we raised around £4,000. There were about 15 of us that came down. We just keep going.”