The family of a four-year-old boy battling an extremely rare form of cancer is trying to raise £300,000 for experimental treatment which could let him live a long and happy life.

Freddie from Hedge End has stage-four, high-risk neuroblastoma: an aggressive childhood cancer that affects around 100 children in the UK every year.

Dad Matt Barnes, 52, said that he has faced the hardest 16 months of his life after the diagnosis.

Half of those diagnosed have a ‘high risk-disease’ which needs the harshest and most intensive treatment courses of any cancer – which is what Freddie is going through.

Matt said: “Despite all he has gone through – Freddie has never stopped smiling.

“He such a remarkable boy and his twin brother Theo has been with him all through his journey."

Theo and Freddie Theo and Freddie (Image: Submitted)

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In January 2023, Freddie was experiencing abdominal, leg pain and lethargy.

He was initially found to have a viral infection and was subsequently discharged – but Freddie’s abdominal pain continued with poor appetite and weight loss.

In March 2023, the devastating news came that a large mass in his abdomen was neuroblastoma.

You can donate to Freddie's donation page HERE.

Matt said: “Cancer in adults is devastating but cancer in children disrupts such a pivotal time in their lives – the hospital do a fantastic job but really it’s the parents that have to face the hardship with them.”

Many children with a high-risk neuroblastoma go on to have a relapse later on, with just a 10 per cent survival rate.

This is why Freddie's family has set up a fundraiser to raise £300,000 to get a bivalent vaccine in New York, after he finishes NHS treatment, with the goal to stop him relapsing.

According to the fundraising page, the vaccine is an experimental treatment that triggers the patient’s body to make its own antibodies to attack the cancer cells, stopping them coming back.

They have raised £20,000 of their goal so far with fundraisers in the pipeline.

Matt said: "It would be great if the people of Southampton could donate whatever they can manage to support Freddie."

Local children’s party company, the Fun4Hire Network, offer free "Dream Party Giveaways" to families facing hardship or children who have displayed extraordinary resilience, kindness, or bravery.

This Sunday, the Fun4Hire Network will be putting on a superhero-themed party for Freddy complete with various activities such as inflatables, party food, and even a gymnast performing as Spiderman.