My ambition to see my brave son stand tall

The two-year-old currently has to endure intensive physio every day and a 100 mile journey every other day for oxygen treatment.

"Christian is a happy boy and is just used to it," said Steve, who is 40. "We want him to get help now, however, so it lessens the psychological impact as he gets older and he realises he can't do the things others can do.

"Currently he can crawl around but we'd love him to be able to stand up at school and get from one end of the playground to the other with all the other kids."

The help that Steve and his wife have identified is pioneering surgery at Missouri in the US.

It involves a process which sees "bad" nerves destroyed, leaving the "good" ones in place, allowing for the correct messages to be sent to the legs and enabling Christian, who was born 12 weeks premature, to walk.

Steve said: "We've got a lot of hope in this. Looking at the statistics of operations, there's a high success rate."

However, it involves raising £60,000 for the operation, which his parents hope will take place in October, and Steve is asking the Canary Wharf community to help.

Along with fellow members of his cycling club in Sidcup, Steve is travelling by bike from Canary Wharf to Deal overnight to raise some of the cash on July 14.

The 87 mile route should take around six hours and is being run at night so there is less traffic on the roads to increase speed and safety.

"If people want to donate, or even join us on this trip that would be great," said Steve.

"A lot of people want to help, especially when they compare their children to Christian, and we're very grateful."

Go to justgiving.com/Christian2Walk.