BUS managers for First in York got on their bikes to give new hope to a brave little boy born with a crippling condition.

Three of them cycled 90 miles from Leeds to Warrington in 12 hours to help raise money towards the £50,000 needed to send six-year-old Christopher Maltby, who lives near Leeds and has spastic diplegia palsy, to the United States for specialist treatment.

First Operations Manager in York, Peter Taylor, who is a former colleague of Christopher’s mum, together with colleagues Neil McDermott and Tony Graham, raised nearly £1,000 as part of their cycling marathon.

Christopher’s illness means he cannot walk properly and everyday tasks like getting dressed and writing are a challenge for him. He also needs daily physiotherapy.

Doctors told his parents nothing more can be done for him in this country – but now they want to send him to a specialist children’s hospital in St Louis where doctors have already helped more than 2,000 youngsters with cerebral palsy by using a procedure called selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Peter said: “The three of us had talked for some time about going on a long-distance bike ride just as a personal challenge. The truth is we would probably never have done it if I had not heard of the fundraising appeal for Christopher.”

To give a donation to help send Christopher to America, visit justgiving.com/chrisssysquest