A FAMILY is appealing for help in raising funds to ensure their young son can have the cancer treatment he desperately needs.

Just over a year ago, Darlington boy Luke Bell began falling asleep in his school lessons, prompting his worried parents to rush him to the doctor.

Mark and Becky Bell thought their son may have had anaemia but it never crossed their minds that he would be diagnosed with high risk neuroblastoma – a rare form of cancer – just days later.

The shock diagnosis which left the family devastated marked the beginning of a year of extended hospital stays and gruelling treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

At the end of April, Luke was in the final stages of treatment and enduring what was believed to be his last round of immunotherapy when the Bells were given the devastating news that their little boy had relapsed, with scans showing a progression of his illness.

The likelihood of the eight-year-old being fully cured of cancer are now remote but his family are refusing to give up hope and are now fundraising in a bid to meet costs of future treatment that could soar higher than £200,000.

Brave Holy Family Primary pupil Luke is about to embark upon trial chemotherapy treatment in London, with further costly treatment options abroad on the horizon.

In order to ease the financial burden associated with treatment and ensure Luke can access the medical care he needs, his family and friends are embarking upon a series of fundraising events and would like the community to join them in supporting the brave youngster.

Luke’s father, rugby player Mark Bell, said he had been blown away by the support received already and praised Darlington’s Mowden Park Rugby Club, the Paragon gym and Luke’s school for staging fundraising events.

He said the family were trying to prepare as much as possible for the uncertain future ahead, adding: “A relapse at this stage is significant and we don’t want to leave fundraising until the point of no return.

“We are getting to the stage where we need to get serious money together and we would like everybody to be aware of Luke’s story and we’d be so grateful if anybody who wants to could join us in fundraising.

“This has been very difficult for him and he has hated staying in hospital and the treatments – in fact, if you even say the word treatment around him, you have to pay him a quid.

“Before the relapse, he had the most energy he’s ever had and it’s been a real kick in the teeth for us all but he’s taking it in his stride – his attitude is always ‘let’s just get on with it’.

“That attitude is strengthening the rest of us, knowing that he is prepared to take this fight on himself.

“Looking at what he’s been through, it’s incredible.”