Parents’ bid to raise £20,000 after being told their 8-year-old son has just 12 months to live

Lucas Pontes, 8, from Great Yarmouth was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2015. Now his family have been told there is nothing doctors can do and he only has 12 months to live.Lucas at Addenbrokes hospital. (Image: Supplied)

Lucas Pontes, 8, was diagnosed with the tumour in April last year. He has bravely battled through chemotherapy and operations to fit shunts to relieve the pressure from his brain.

But last month, after suffering headaches, seizures and vomiting, Lucas' mum Christiane Herlan took him to hospital where doctors suspected there was a problem with one of the shunts.

An operation revealed the tragic blow - his tumour had grown.

Although surgeons at Addenbrokes in Cambridge managed to remove 95pc of the growth, Lucas' devastated family were told the tumour was not benign, and no treatment or cure was available.

Lucas Pontes, 8, from Great Yarmouth was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2015. Now his family have been told there is nothing doctors can do and he only has 12 months to live.Lucas with fundraiser and family friend Colin Yallop. (Image: Supplied)

Now Lucas' dad, Carlos Pontes, is hoping to raise enough money so he can give up work at Bernard Matthews, so the family can be together as much as possible for the young boy's final months.

Close family friend Colin Yallop has been fundraising for Lucas since the start, including organising a football day to support the youngster last year.

He said: 'My little boy Liam is best mates with Lucas, they go to school together at Southtown Primary. He comes round for dinner and they play together, he's a brilliant little boy.

'The family is one of the most amazing families I have ever met in my life.

Lucas Pontes, 8, from Great Yarmouth was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2015. Now his family have been told there is nothing doctors can do and he only has 12 months to live.Lucas with the trophy of the football tournament held in his honour at Southtown Primary School. (Image: Supplied)

'Lucas has a two-year-old sister Luana who absolutely idolises her brother, he's the most lovely boy you could meet, he's always got a smile and he's always happy.'

Mr Yallop, 30, said the hope was if Mr Pontes could give up work the family, who live on Stafford Road, would be able to make Lucas' last months happy ones.

He said: 'So they can make sure they have no financial worries and maybe even give them some memories to make over the next few months.'

Mr Yallop, who lives in Cobholm, said he was in awe of the strength shown by Mr Pontes and Mrs Herlan, who moved to Yarmouth from Brazil and Portugal 13 years ago.

He added: 'Lucas has taken it all in his stride too, he knows what's going on but he always manages to smile.'

Mrs Herlan - a former interpreter at Cliff Park Ormiston Academy - set up an online fundraising page for the family. On it she wrote: 'We would like to spend all the time as a family. To do that my husband has to stop working. And without his job he can't pay the bills. I set £20,000 to try to pay our bills for one year.

'This is the set clock for Lucas. We never asked for any money. But now I do, please.'

In its first two days, the page had already racked up £2,300 in donations.

And Southtown Primary School is planning to hold various fundraisers, including a 24 hour walkathon on July 1/2.

Mrs Herlan wanted to thank everyone for their support.

• To donate to the family, visit www.gofundme.com/298sxxb3• To follow Lucas' progress or leave your message of support, search on Facebook for 'Hope for Lucas' or 'Prayers for Lucas Pontes'.

• Have you got a fundraising idea for Lucas and his family? Email geraldine.scott@archant.co.uk