Cancer family happy with support

Alex needs treatment for a brain tumour

The family of a four-year-old boy who needs treatment for his brain tumour say they have been overwhelmed by the response to their plea for support.

The parents of Alex Barnes from Leicestershire want to raise at least £30,000 to pay for an operation and proton treatment in Florida.

The head teacher at Alex's school in Great Glen said offers of financial support have flooded in.

One cheque sent to Stoneygate School was for £2,000, John Morris said.

'Over the moon'

Alex Barnes' grandfather Ron Barnes said: "We are all overwhelmed by the generosity and we are all over the moon.

"It is so gratifying to see that there are people in the world who are thinking about other people and are willing to help and want to help out."

The family said the NHS had backed their decision to consider proton treatment in the US.

The type of proton treatment the family wants is not available in the UK.

His family, from Fleckney, say proton therapy is safer for children as it does not damage surrounding tissue.

They have not yet made a final decision on whether to have radiotherapy treatment in England or proton treatment in the US.

Alex has a condition known as anaplastic ependymoma.

The family are afraid there might be some side effects from the radiation treatment.

Surgeons in Florida, where Mrs Barnes' brother and parents live, have told her they will waive their surgical fees for the operation.

Proton treatment uses a machine called a cyclotron which produces a beam of protons.

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A Florida hospital will treat Alex Barnes with a pioneering technique