A WHEELCHAIR-bound DJ from Bromsgrove has organised a charity event to support an appeal to help a young boy walk again.

Ben Kelly, 33, is hosting the showcase and raffle at Quarry Bank Conservative Club on August 25 to help raise money for the James’ Dream appeal.

The appeal is in support of seven-year-old James Downing, from Rowley Regis, and is already closing in on its £50,000 target.

James has a condition Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia, which means the muscles in this legs are too tight, making it hard for him to put his feet flat on the floor to allow him to walk.

His family need to raise the cash to pay for a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) operation and two years of aftercare to enable him to walk unaided. Money raised above this target will help with other treatment such as physio.

Mr Kelly has a condition known as Spina Bifida/hydrocephalus, meaning his spine didn’t fully develop properly in the womb.

And the DJ, who runs his own company BK Entertainment, said it was his own illness that spurred him on to help James.

Mr Kelly said: “I am a wheelchair user, originally from Bromsgrove, and moved to Cheltenham for a specialist college for the disabled, which is where I picked up my passion for DJing.

“I have been a self-employed DJ since 2013. But last year had to take a year out due to my own ill health where I had a hospital stay for four months.

“I was living in Cheltenham but had to move back to Bromsgrove. I saw James’ story and thought ‘I’ve got to help’. And as well as supporting a great young lad, I thought it could help to relaunch my business again.”

Singers at the event will include Chris Farr, Robert Bonovox, Amy Powell, Abi K, Kim Izzard and Alexandra Darby.

People can support James’ Dream by visiting their fundraising page at justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/just4children/jamessdream.