TRYSTAN’S Goal4Glory charity appeal has smashed through its £40k target – thanks to the fantastic generosity of the Welsh national football team.

Football-mad Cilgerran youngster Trystan Beard suffers from cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia) and his big goal in life is to score for the village team without the aid of his walking frame.

And that dream may be possible sooner than anyone could dare imagine thanks to the Welsh national side.

The players heard about his wish and Trystan got to meet up with his heroes at a training session before their recent European championship qualifiers.

They then donated their match fees from the game against Azerbaijan to Trystan’s charity appeal, smashing through the £40,000 target.

His family launched the appeal back in July to raise £40,000 for a specialist life-changing operation and intensive rehabilitation that is not available on the NHS.

The local community has rallied round with a series of fund-raising events to help the eight-year-old but now Gareth Bale and his fellow players have made the family’s wish come true.

“We can’t quite believe it and we cannot thank them enough,” said mum Anwen, who works at Cardigan’s Aldi supermarket.

“We got a call last week to say the players had heard about Trystan and wanted to do something to help but for them to do this is just unbelievable.

“We have just about got ourselves up off the floor in shock and the tissue boxes are empty.

“It has all happened so quickly and we will now be in touch with the surgeons at Bristol where the operation will be carried out and with Trystan’s physiotherapy team.”

Dad Tom, who works at Cardigan Sand and Gravel at Penparc, took to Twitter to express his thanks.

He tweeted: “Thank you so much. You have just changed my son’s life forever. Don’t know how much it means to us as a family. Your amazing donation has got us to hit our target. Speechless. What a team.

“Will be forever grateful for this amazing donation. Thank you so, so much to everyone who made it possible.”

There are several events already arranged and any extra money raised will go towards other children in need and children’s charities.

“We just want to say a huge thank you to everyone in the local community who has helped us. The support we have had in the Cardigan area has been incredible,” added Anwen.