THE parents of little Theo Ward, who has a tumour behind his eye, are preparing for a trip to America for potentially life-saving treatment and have been "overwhelmed" by the support shown by family, friends and the wider community.

Lisa and James are still waiting to learn whether the NHS will fund the proton beam treatment, so in the meantime they are determined to raise the £90,000 needed in case the decision does not go their way. As soon as their plight became known, however, friends jumped in and have set up online charity pages and are planning various fundraising events.

The Wards' lives were turned upside down in May when Theo developed a drooping eyelid, but were told by doctors that it was simply an infection and could be treated with antibiotics. His parents, though, believed it was something worse. "We had to fight with the doctors just to get them to listen," said Lisa.

"Two-and-a-half weeks after our first attempt, we were sent to Treliske but by then his eye was bulging and it was getting worse daily. We had eye tests and a week later saw a consultant who said he was 99 per cent sure he knew what it was and that we should prepare ourselves to go to Bristol so we knew something was wrong."

An MRI scan revealed a mass behind Theo's left eye and a biopsy was taken. Two days after the toddler's second birthday, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, which affects fewer than 60 children each year.

Theo had his first course of chemotherapy in early June with surgery usually accompanying this, but not in Theo's case. "The tumour is inoperable because of where it is," said James, who works at Falmouth University. "It is attached to his optic nerve so it is not safe to remove it."

The next best thing is the proton beam therapy which is not, as yet, available in the UK. This means a trip to America for Lisa, James, Theo and big sister, Evie-Mai, seven. Although the family are sure Theo's eyesight has already been permanently affected by the tumour, they hope the therapy will reduce any further damage.

The Wards are hoping to learn on August 14 whether they have been approved for NHS funding and will then

need to be accepted by the America medical team. In the meantime, Theo is undergoing chemotherapy every three weeks, which will continue while the family are hopefully in America.

When news of Theo's situation became known, Evie-Mai's teacher at Marlborough School, Beth Draper, set about helping to raise the £90,000 which may be needed. She set up a crowdfunding page which initially had a target of just £200, but 46 pledges have seen the total raised so far, with seven days to go, rocket to £1,115. Further donations can be made at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/falmouthtoflorida.

A second page, https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Andymcnair, set up by family friend, Andy McNair, has seen £440 of a £1,000 target raised so far.

In addition to the online fundraisers, a charity auction is being planned at the St Michael's Hotel in Falmouth on October 9, and a fundraising rugby match will be played between workers at A&P Falmouth and Pendennis Shipyard.

The donations and offers of support have left Lisa and James, who live at Boscundle Avenue, dazed, "It is really humbling," said Lisa. "It is really overwhelming."

James, who shaved his head when Theo lost his hair due to the chemotherapy, added: "Everything we have ever done, we have done on our own and we are quite proud of that, so, to accept help from others is a bit hard, but we don't stand a chance without it.

"It's great that people have taken the lead on the fundraising now which gives us time to focus on Theo and Evie and their needs."

If the NHS do fund Theo's treatment and the money raised is not needed to pay for the family's living costs while in America, the donations will be given to CLIC Sargent.

For more information on the Wards' plight, search for Theo Ward's Journey on Facebook.