A five-year-old girl in Deal has only one wish this Christmas... to be able to walk.

Ellice Barr, who goes to the Down’s Primary School, was diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy at just 22 months old.

This month, her parents Amy and Joe Barr, of Magness Road, have launched a campaign to raise £65,000 to pay for life-changing selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery and rehabilitation which will help her to walk unaided.

Scroll down for video

Help is already flooding in with Deal Icebreakers, the organisers of the annual Boxing Day Dip in Deal, announcing Ellice’s Wish to Walk as their chosen charity for 2017.

Mr Barr, 37, assistant manager at Aldi in Dover, said: “We’ve been humbled by people’s willingness to help already.

“Ellice loves dollies and little trinkets. Disney princesses and Trolls are her two favourite things.

“She has a bunny teddy bear that she takes everywhere and she loves colouring in.

“But she just wants to walk like her friends and climb better.”

Registration for the 36th annual Boxing Day Dip in Deal is now open.

The event takes place at the north side of the pier at 11am on December 26.

In addition to Ellice’s appeal, organisers Deal Icebreakers will also give a donation to Deal Hospital and ACE, the Alternative Christmas Experience, who provide a traditional Christmas meal to those on their own.

Items for the Deal Area Foodbank are also being collected.

It costs £5 online at www.dealicebreakers.co.uk. The last day for registration online is Sunday, December 17. Registration on the day will be £10 and queues are expected.

Competitors are reminded to take a towel and wear shoes.

How to help

To donate to Ellice’s Wish to Walk visit the Ellice's Wish to Walk page.

You can also text RHIZ92 £1-£10 to 70070.

To help in any other way, call 07545843401, 07853140445 or email amylou2286@hotmail.com