FUNDRAISING efforts are in place for a little boy from Leigh who has autism and suffers from a rare form of cancer.

Four-year-old Charlie Taylor was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma in June.

The cancer affects around 100 children a year in the UK, with the survival rates being about 40 to 50 per cent.

This diagnosis came just weeks after the family were informed that Charlie is also on the autistic spectrum, meaning that he struggles to understand what is happening.

Kirstie Unsworth, a friend of the family, who is running the fundraising campaign, said: “There are some trials abroad, in places like America and Germany, that could benefit Charlie’s condition.

“If we could raise the money we could get Charlie whatever is best for his advanced treatment.”

His family have joined forces with the Maddi’s Butterflies charity to raise the £250,000 needed to hopefully get Charlie treatment abroad.

Maddi’s Butterflies was set up in memory of Madison Allan, who died from neuroblastoma at the age of seven on Boxing Day in 2011.

The charity was set up in 2012 to help raise awareness and money to assist families with children who have also been diagnosed with neuroblastoma and other rare forms of cancer.

Madison’s mum Samantha Allan, who runs the charity, said: “All the money raised will always be for Charlie.

“The money will always be there if, God forbid, he was okay and then he lapses.”

Fundraising events have taken place to help raise the money for Charlie’s treatments in the past but there is a desperate need for more volunteers.

Kirstie said: “We have many events in the pipeline, like a lip sync event at East Leigh Labour Club on April 15.

“Charlie’s mum doesn’t want these events to be sad and we want all the children and volunteers to have a nice time.”

You can donate to The Charlie Taylor Appeal online at maddisbutterflies.org.uk and you can now also donate by texting CHAR04 and the amount to 70070