MEMBERS of a karate club are set to undergo a gruelling challenge to help a little boy realise his dream of walking unaided.

Five members at Chadwell St Mary’s Zenshin-do club will be aiming to display 100 different karate techniques in 50 rounds, each lasting three minutes.

They will put their endurance to the test on Saturday to raise money for three-year-old Reece Walker, who has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

The condition leaves the muscles in Reece’s legs painfully tight, but it is hoped a pioneering operation in America, costing around £40,000, will change that.

Instructor Danny Howard said: “I first found out about Reece’s appeal when his mum Laura was doing some fundraising at the local Asda.

“I was touched by his plight and decided that there must be something that the club could do to help.

“We had a chat and came up with the idea of getting people to sponsor us to take part in the challenge which could last five to six hours.

“It will be demanding but we’ll hopefully raise a decent amount of money for Reece.”

Reece, from Horndon-on-the-Hill, is booked in to have his operation on April 3.

His mum, Laura, has been touched by the support the family have had from the community so far.

She said: “We have been taken aback by the generosity of the local community and will never be able to express how grateful we are for everything that has been done to enable us to get to the stage where Reece can have to operation that will change his life forever. A massive thank you to the members of Zenshin-do for what they are doing.”

The challenge will start at the club, in Longhouse Road, at 10am, the public are welcome to come and cheer the team on.

Later that evening there will be another event at the Kings Head pub, West Tilbury, where a entertainment and a raffle will be held to boost funds.

To sponsor the team, go online to Reece’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/helpreecewalk, or call the charity Caudwell Children on 01782 600 687, or text WALK86 £(amount) to 70070.