FRIENDS and family of a young West Devon boy suffering with cancer are hosting an Easter fundraising event next week to raise money for his treatment.

Three-and-a-half year old Henry Hallam is currently being treated for Neuroblastoma — a cancer that affects children and develops from nerve cells called neuroblasts.

Henry was diagnosed with the disease in September 2012 after doctors found cancerous tumours all over his body. He has been treated at hospital in Bristol since.

Henry's parents, Elsbeth and Mike, who lived in Yelverton until Henry was two, researched the condition and found out that even if he did beat the cancer, there would be an 80% chance of a relapse — and there is no relapse protocol in the UK.

Elsbeth said: 'It was all a bit of a shock. He was diagnosed back in September and we've been up in Bristol ever since.

'When we arrived at the hospital there were two other children there at the time with Neuroblastoma and one other came in after Henry. Those children have since died, which just shows what a difficult cancer it is to treat.'

Henry is currently on a clinical trial for treatment at hospital in Bristol and is due to start radiotherapy in April.

However, Elsbeth said that there is uncertainty with the clinical trial because if at any point Henry becomes unwell he will be taken off his treatment and they would have to go abroad to get treatment.

The couple have found hope in a charity called Families Against Neuroblastoma (FAN), which helps to raise funds for potentially life-saving treatments outside of the UK.

Now, Henry's parents are appealing for the help of the local community to help them raise the £500,000 needed to provide him with the best available treatment, wherever in the world it may be.

'It's all a bit of a challenging time for us at the moment — we just don't know what's around the corner.

'We're appealing for as much support as possible, even if it is just a pound it makes a difference. We also want to let other families know about the condition. If you look it up it says it is a rare disease but we don't want people to think it is rare because they won't be looking out for it, so we want to raise awareness of the condition too.'

Friends, family and the local community have rallied and have so far raised almost £7,000 on the dedicated 'Just Giving' website.

An Easter fundraiser is being held at St Paul's Church Hall in Yelverton on Saturday, March 30, which will boast an Easter egg hunt, Easter bonnet competition, face painting, a raffle, tombola and stalls selling a variety of wares as well as many other activities.

The event starts at 12.30pm, with the bonnet competition at 2.30pm and the egg hunt at 3.30pm.

Anyone who would like to help raise money for Henry's treatment can do so by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/henryhallamappeal">www.justgiving.com/henryhallamappeal or they can donate by texting HUGS80 and an amount, between £1 and £10, to 70070.