A 'CHEEKY' 10-year-old is all smiles as a date has been confirmed for her to have a much-awaited, life-changing operation.

Tahlia Kenner suffers from severe Cerebral Palsy and her family have been striving to raise enough funds to cover the operation and ongoing aftercare.

The surgery Tahlia will be having is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) which could not be funded on the NHS. With support from her family, physio and some grit and determination it is hoped Tahlia will be able to walk and achieve her dream of becoming a dancer.

A few weeks ago mum Helen received a phone call confirming Saturday, October 1 as the day for Tahlia's operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Helen said: "I just couldn't believe it when I picked up the phone. I was in total shock. I thought we would have been waiting a bit longer. It's such fantastic news. I told Rob and then we told Tahlia and she was just so happy. We all had a little cry with happy tears."

Tahlia said: "I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I'm really excited and a bit nervous."

With a target of £40,000 Helen and her husband Rob, who live in Wyke Regis, turned to the public for help last year and were instantly overwhelmed by the response.

The family will also be receiving a £2,000 pledge from the Bollinger Boys Luncheon Club which will bring their total to £36,399. But the family will need to continue fundraising for Tahlia's ongoing aftercare.

Last month Rob, alongside family and friends, including his 14-year-old son Connor, climbed Mount Snowdon. The group smashed their £1,500 target raising more than £2,000.

Rob said: "For myself, I was amazed that we raised so much. We had only just done the skydive and it felt like we were asking the same people for more donations.

"It was a fantastic experience. We all had our little individual challenges which we had to overcome and we all worked together to help each other. We took the Watkins path. Three thirds of it wasn't too bad but the last third was just walking up a cliff edge. It was tough."

The family also organised a charity night with spiritual medium Dan Clarke at the Centenary Club in Weymouth earlier the month raising £523.

Ralph Nubeebuckus, who ran the Cardiff Half Marathon raising more than £2,300 for the family last year has been back in contact. At the age of 68 he has now volunteered to run the Great North Run in September.

Helen's aunt has also organised a Cider Fest and Barbecue at The Lugger Inn on Saturday, August 13 and Rob's friend Cameron Mcglone has volunteered to do a 108 mile bike ride in September for Tahlia.

If you would like to donate you can visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Helen-Kenner or justgiving.com/fundraising/cameron-mcglone