A NEWPORT boy faces three years of gruelling treatment after he was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Seven-year-old Lucas Hoare, from Bettws, was told last month by doctors that he has leukaemia, and now has to undergo five stages of treatment.

But fundraisers in the community are collecting donations to buy little Lucas an iPad so he can video call his parents and play games while in hospital.

The money will also be used to help the Monnow primary school pupil's parents take him away on day trips.

His mum, Lindsay Webb, said: “Lucas has got three years and 10 weeks of treatment ahead of him, so he’ll finish just before his 11th birthday.

“But they don’t give the all clear until five years have passed. So it will be eight years before he is cancer free.

“He was in hospital for three weeks at the start and now he goes in for treatment. He has chemotherapy at home.

“There are five stages and he’s on stage two of treatment at the moment. Stage two is consolidation chemotherapy to destroy leukaemia cells.”

The fundraising appeal has so far raised £890.

Ms Webb, who is also mum to Lacie, five, and Lyle, nine months, added: “Lucas was a bit upset and angry at first which is what you would expect.

“He was seven weeks premature, he had a blood problem when he was a baby. So he hasn’t had an easy go.

“But he knows what we have got to do. It’s hard for us but you have to get on with it.”

Farrah Fraser, 27, from Bettws, is leading the fundraising campaign after hearing about Lucas being ill.

She said she first started fundraising for a PlayStation 4 for Lucas, to distract him for his treatment, but then the donations grew.

She said: “Somebody messaged me to offer to go out to buy a PS4. We are using the money for an iPad.

“The donations are coming from everywhere which is amazing.”

Ms Webb said: “Farrah has been brilliant. And the response has been absolutely overwhelming.

“Lucas has good days and bad days. We went to London recently and he was like a bottle of pop.”