FRIENDS of a family-of-three are aiming to raise £5,000 for a “cheerful” and “positive” little boy who is battling cancer.

Charlie Daniels - who is nicknamed Charlie Bear and is from Cwmbran - is currently in the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales after being diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma.

The three-year-old was diagnosed with the disease earlier this year after being unwell for a week.

His mum - Zoe Matthews - was first told the toddler had constipation, but an MRI scan later revealed he had a tumour on the spine.

He was taken into hospital for the removal of the tumour but was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma last month.

At the moment Charlie is undergoing chemotherapy and has no movement in his legs - with Miss Matthews being informed by doctors that her little boy may never regain feeling in them. Now, Miss Matthews’ friends and family are rallying together to aim to raise £5,000 for her, Charlie and Charlie’s older brother Mason Daniels.

Rhian Dyke, of Pontypool, is a friend of the family as Miss Matthews’ six-year-old son Mason is autistic and attended a youth group at Hope GB.

Hope GB is a voluntary support group which provides practical help and encouragement for people affected by autism in Torfaen.

Mrs Dyke is part of Hope GB and along with close friends of Miss Matthews - Zoe Adu and Ellie Smith - is helping to raise £5,000 to send the family to Disneyland when Charlie is better. 

She said: “We (Hope GB) wanted to do something that says we are thinking of the family and we want to show them they are in our thoughts.

“I know Zoe as she volunteers at the youth group. Her, Mason and Charlie - the whole family - are so lovely.

“Zoe is such a fantastic and positive person and she has definitely passed that down to her children.

“We will build a giant bear out of pennies and we want the money to go towards something good for the family - like a holiday.”

Miss Matthews, 29, said she is grateful for the donations and that Charlie is doing well.

She said: “I don’t know how to feel about the fundraising but I am very thankful.

“Charlie is keeping us all going because he’s so cheerful and chirpy. It’s amazing. “Even in the circumstances he is remaining so positive. He helps us to stay strong.”

To donate to raise money for Charlie and his family, visit http://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/charliebearfund