THE family of a six-year-old boy fighting an aggressive form of cancer have sold their house in north Lancashire to help pay for potentially life-saving treatment.

Alex Carratu, whose family emigrated from Wennington to Tauranga, New Zealand, was recently diagnosed with the rare Burkitt's Lymphoma disease after his dad, an osteopath, felt a lump in his son's stomach.

Doctors are experimenting with different chemotherapy treatments as they try to determine to what extent the cancer has gripped the body of the former Arkholme Primary School pupil.

With his mother Claudia by his side in a sterile room and his father and four siblings 200km away, he is likely to be in a specialist children's hospital in Auckland until at least Christmas.

While some of the care will be paid for, the family have decided to privately fund extra treatment to boost Alex's chance of survival with initial programmes starting at around £10,000.

Despite planning to move back to England in September, the family were left with little option but to sell their home and all its contents to raise the necessary money quickly.

"Alex's tumour is the fastest growing tumour there is and people often die from the complications and then the discovery of the tumours are made," said Alex's 48-year-old dad Matthew.

"Chemo is quite effective if caught early but every cell has to be killed and chemo has to be fierce.

"Alex is having a very tough time coping with treatment. It has to be relentless. If they slow down Alex's prognosis gets bad.

"It doesn't feel desperate yet, but progress and regress marks every day and I'd do anything I could to help Alex."

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In a bid to help Alex pull through, the family were referred to Australia-based Genomics - which tests the biopsy cells for their damage when under chemo formulae so more effective treatments can be developed.

"In the same way you'd read about parents flying to the States for an extra something, even though NHS treatment is available, it's often so an innovation in development can help in this game of percentages," explained Matthew.

"The costs of an initial programme depends on stage, urgency, age, logistics and we are three weeks into this."

Matthew estimated around £48,000 would be needed to pay for the added treatment - as well as adaptations to a house, including his own room, bathroom, hoist, adjustable bed and car modifications.

"We are using our home's capital for an innovation that we hope will make the difference and making provision for all the aids he will need to make the best of life," added Matthew, also dad to Ollie, 19, Tom, 17, Issy, 14 and Oscar, 11.

"He'll be vulnerable for more than a year so his own room, bathroom, hoist, adjustable bed, special cleaning and car modifications all cost.

"We know we may not be able to afford a home in the UK again."

Alex has even received a get well message from The Queen after one of his friends contacted the royal.

In a reply, Lucy Allison-Vallois, lady-in-waiting, said: "The Queen can quite understand how you sad you are that you are unable to visit him in New Zealand, and Her Majesty sends her very good wishes to you, and to Alex and his family at this difficult time."

Meanwhile, friends back home are helping to raise money and were tasked with selling all the house's furniture - with around £1,600 made so far.

Among those involved is Tammy Skelton, from Kirkby Lonsdale, who said: "The people who are buying the house want to move in in the next two weeks so it's been a mad rush to clear out the house."

"He is a really chilled out boy who loves to dress up as superheroes," added Tammy, who works at estate agents Davis and Bowring. "The New Zealand life really suits him with the beaches. He has taken all of this very well."

Visit https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/alexcarratu to donate.