A WIDNES schoolboy battling a rare condition has won the hearts of traders.

Wrestling enthusiast Callum Murray, aged 11, is hoping to fly to America for life-changing surgery.

Widnes market stallholders have raised £1,500 towards his pioneering treatment.

Callum, of Kingham Close has two brain conditions, Arnold Chiari malformation and Hydrocephalus.

He has undergone almost 40 brain operations since he was diagnosed six years ago.

Traders and customers baked cakes and collected £400 at their latest fundraising event in the market.

Organiser Debbie Hankin, who runs a sweet stall said: "Callum Murray is a brave, young boy. He is an inspiration to many.

"We heard about him in The World and decided to do something to help.”

Traders have pledged to continue raising money to help him by holding various other events.

So far, £13,600 has been raised. It is not yet known how much his treatment in America will cost.

Callum, a pupil at SS Peter & Paul Catholic College, hopes to receive treatment at the Chiari Institute in New York.

He is about to undergo more tests and scans at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. 

His mum, Sharon, aged 35, said: “This hospital specialists in both Callum’s conditions. They have developed new treatments and techniques, which will not be available here for two years.

“Every day Callum has headaches, back ache, pain in his neck and legs, nausea and gets tired easily.

“Yet, he never complains and is so brave.

“It’s heartbreaking to see him in pain.

“We won’t rest until we’ve done everything possible to normalise his life.”

Callum’s friends at his former school, St John Fisher, have raised funds for him.

Widnes business women Paula Forbes from About Flowers and Lindsey Wright from Queens Avenue Pets climbed Mount Snowdon to support him.