A FATHER from the Forest who has been diagnosed with rare inoperable cancer is appealing to the local community to help him raise enough money to take his son on holiday for the first time.

Adam Tilley, from Coleford, was recently diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Cancer, which is a rare type of cancer that affects the part of the throat connecting the back of the nose to the back of the mouth.

He is having to undergo gruelling and intense chemo and radiotherapy to treat the cancer, with which only 250 people are diagnosed in the UK annually.

Because of his condition, he is currently only able to talk to his seven year-old son through FaceTime.

Adam’s prognosis is positive, but the location of the cancer means that the treatments “are not without risk” and could leave him with permanent damage to his tongue.

Now he is hoping that he can raise enough money with the help of local people to take his son “on his first holiday with his Daddy”.

He explained: “I am doing this fundraiser to help deal with recently being diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Cancer.

“I’m not one of these guys who likes to beg and always have been a pretty independent guy who has never relied on anyone to make my way through life, but due to this cruel Cancer I’m now a bit desperate.

“I have a seven year-old son who is my absolute world and am trying to raise a bit money so I can take him on his first holiday with his Daddy.

“Due to this Cancer I unfortunately can only speak to him through FaceTime.

“Nasopharyngeal Cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the part of the throat connecting to the back of the nose to the back of the mouth.

“In the UK about 250 people are diagnosed with this each year. Unfortunately I’m one of them.

“This type is inoperable so the only treatment for me is to have 9 weeks of intense chemotherapy. I will also need radiotherapy.

“The prognosis is positive, but the treatment itself is not without risk. I could lose the use of my salivary glands and the use of radiotherapy could affect my tongue in such a way that may not be able to swallow food.

“So please if you could spare anything at all, to help me, it would be gratefully received.”

Having initially set a target of £300, his GoFundMe page has already surpassed that, with £410 currently from 23 donations.

To donate to Adam’s cause, go to www.gofundme.com/f/help-dealing-with-nasopharyngeal-cancer.