A MAGICAL spectacle will descend on Alderley Edge this weekend as the second Wizard Walk takes place for a good cause.

Nine-year-old Max Bailey, who has recently moved from Alderley Edge to Wilmslow with his family, has a curved spine – a condition known as scoliosis.

While treatment in the UK focuses on irreversible surgery, American medics use a course of non-surgical treatment for scoliosis.

Saz Bailey, Max's mum, has set up Maxipotential to help fund trips across the Atlantic for his scoliosis treatment.

Last year's Wizard Walk saw 290 wizards raise money to kickstart Max's treatment, and Saz is hoping to reach the 500-wizard mark and raise £5,000 when it returns on Sunday, June 18.

“The Wizard Walk is an accessible walk, everybody can get involved with it," she told the Guardian.

“I realised that when you do large events where people do thinks like a race or a walk, rather than sponsorship it’s the people who organise the events that raise the most money for an organisation.

“I decided that I had to be the event organiser so I looked at something that was creative, that kids and families could get involved with – something that would spark people’s interest.

Maxipotential aims to raise £65,000 a year to help fund a trip to America once every three months.

And following almost 18 months of cross-Atlantic jaunts, Max's American treatment is already having an impact.

"I have a bigger ambition to bring what they do in the USA back to the UK," Saz said.

"Here treatment comes when it's too late, with horrible surgery which would leave Max with metal rods inserted along the length of his spine.

"He would then have surgery every three to six months, until the end of his growth spurt around the age of 12, when his spine would be fused solid and he would be left with life-long disability.

"But Max has already had a successful 18 months with his American treatment, and his spine has reduced from a 71-degree curve to 35 degrees."

For more information and to register for the Wizard Walk, visit wizardwalk.org

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