A DORSET family has spoken out to encourage local daredevils to take part in a super-hero themed fundraiser to help children with cancer.

Aged just 12, Ben has been fighting a brain tumour since being diagnosed in January last year.

His mum Nicole, who didn’t want to share the family’s surname, has spoken about her son’s diagnosis to encourage people to take part in a sponsored abseil in aid of children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Ben’s symptoms began with him being sick, and he was originally tested for a food intolerance. But he was later referred to a specialist and sent for an MRI scan.

Nicole said: “We were told the scan would take an hour but it took a lot longer than that. Finally, a consultant asked us to go up to his office to discuss the results and that’s when I realised something serious must be wrong.

“When he told us Ben had a brain tumour it was sickening; it felt unreal. I thought, ‘things like this don’t happen to people like us’.

“The consultant talked to us all about Ben’s brain tumour and what the plans were for treating it. He pointed out a key symptom we had noticed but hadn’t appreciated its significance, a lopsided smile.”

Ben had his first surgery, which took 12 hours. A week later he had to have another operation before having radiotherapy five days a week for six weeks. He then started chemotherapy in June 2015. In December 2015, Ben’s family was given the good news that he was in remission.

The family is being supported by CLIC Sargent, which has provided a social worker to provide practical, emotional and financial help.

Nicole said: “Our CLIC Sargent Social Worker Tricia is great. She’s a voice of sanity and reason and a good sounding board for us. Just as important, she gives great moral support while we’re stuck in isolation, providing much-needed human contact.

The abseil is taking place on March 19. For details, visit www.clicsargent.org.uk/event/bournemouth-hero-abseil-2016 or email Joy.Morley@clicsargent.org.uk