AN 18-month-old Chippenham boy fighting for survival after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer was visited by a family whose toddler recently beat a life-threatening brain tumour.

The Vinsons, including three-year-old Alexander who was given the all-clear on Wednesday last week after life-saving treatment, offered support to the Withers family at their home in Willow Bank on Monday.

David and Lisa Withers have turned to charity Kids ‘n’ Cancer to help them raise £150,000 for their son Jacob to fly to America for proton beam therapy to save their sick boy – the same treatment that Alexander received.

Readers of the Wiltshire Times, the Gazette’s sister paper, rallied round to help the Vinson family raise the cash they needed and Jacob’s parents are praying the same happens for their son.

Mr Withers, 46, who works as an IT project manager in Swindon, said: “It was devastating to hear that Jacob had a brain tumour, almost as if the sky had fallen in.

“The tumour was found in November and we have felt very isolated ever since, as we have spent six months going in and out of hospital wards.

“So to meet Raluca and Philip, who have been in our situation, gives us the hope and belief that Jacob can make it through as well.

“We’re delighted that we found Kids ‘n’ Cancer, they really understand our situation and have been great so far.”

Mr and Mrs Vinson, who flew out to America in November last year so that their son could have the life-saving therapy, offered advice to Mr and Mrs Withers.

Mrs Vinson said: “This lovely family is going through what we have been through, so it’s nice to offer them our support.

“We can say to them that it is possible and really mean it as we have seen it with our own eyes.

“They need to stay positive and they need to trust the Kids ‘n’ Cancer team to raise the money. They did it for us and I’m sure they’ll do it for them.”

Surgeons have removed 50 per cent of Jacob’s tumour and he has had 12 cycles of aggressive chemotherapy in six months, but proton therapy is required to remove the rest of the tumour.

Co-founder of Kids ‘n’ Cancer Mike Hyman said: “No child should have to sit in an oncologist’s waiting room, so we’re urging the public to get behind this appeal.”

To donate, people can visit the website www.justgiving.com/fundraising/savebabyjacob