A Chepstow father has successfully walked 100km to raise money for three-year-old Ruby Atkins. Andy Hosking donned his walking shoes on Saturday 13th September and walked through the night from Putney Bridge to Henley as part of the annual Thames Path Challenge. The arduous trek raised £4,344.40 for Ruby who has been diagnosed with bilateral cerebral palsy which restricts her ability to walk unaided. Family and friends of Ruby Atkins have been fundraising tirelessly for the tot to receive an operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) treatment. The operation is not currently funded on the NHS. Andy said: "The walk was an amazing feeling and a rollercoaster of emotions. It started with nerves and went to enthusiasm when the walking began, I felt joy at the 25km mark to see my fiancée and daughter, my parents and Ruby with her mum and dad Antony and Rachael.

"At 50km I felt a small amount of pain. When walking through the night I felt uncertainty and more pain as my body began to feel the strain of walking for such a long time. "I felt immense pain after the 75km mark with blisters and sore legs. The last 10km were the worst, but knowing I would get to see my fiancée and daughter Holly kept me going. "We headed back to the river front and finally had sight of the finishing line. The realisation that I had actually made it was overwhelming and I must admit I did cry when I gave my fiancée and daughter a hug." Andy said that in terms of pain the Sunday was the worst and it took him until Tuesday to put his shoes back on. The 43-year-old said he is grateful for the support and donations of his amazing family, friends, colleagues and local and national businesses. "The donations for my t-shirt were a big part of my fundraising and I must send out a huge thanks to Codeserve, MJ Hughes, Sarens UK Ltd, Mabey Bridge Ltd, Easy Car Care (Chepstow) and Tema Protective Treatments," Andy added. Ruby's fund has surpassed its target of £40,000 and Rachael and Antony Atkins will be meeting with consultants at Great Ormond Street Hospital in November. Antony Atkins, Ruby's dad, said: "Andy is a close friend of the family and after he and his fiancée Claire asked for Ruby to be a flower girl at their wedding next year, Andy took it upon himself to do whatever he could to help us raise the funds for Ruby's operation. "The amount of money that Andy alone has been able to raise is astonishing and this will help us to cover any additional physiotherapy or equipment that Ruby might need after the operation."