A FOUR-year-old boy who was diagnosed with cancer last year can look forward to a family holiday to Center Parcs when his treatment is over, after an appeal raised more than £2,000.

Finn Martin was taken to Salisbury Hospital with a bad cough and a temperature in October by his mum Debbie, who knew something was wrong and anticipated a short stay in the children’s ward at most.

But after several blood tests, the four-year-old was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia there and then, and began a course of strong chemotherapy soon afterwards.

Following his diagnosis, his older sister Eli Hodson set up a Just Giving page to raise money for a secret family holiday to Center Parcs and the appeal has now raised enough for a week at the Longleat Forest resort, allowing them a much-needed break.

Mrs Hodson, 24, of, Swaledale Road, Warminster, said: “None of us expected Finn’s diagnosis – it took us all completely by surprise and turned our lives completely upside down.

“Throughout all of his horrible treatment I haven’t heard my incredibly brave little brother moan once. He’s been a real inspiration.

“The diagnosis coincided with my twin girls being born prematurely and being placed in intensive care. It was an incredibly difficult time and we all wondered how we were going to cope.

"It was one of those things you read about happening to other families, and feeling sorry for them, but you don't expect it to happen to you.

“I thought that the family deserved a holiday after everything that had happened and a bit of time to forget about all of the hospital appointments, so I set up the page and, luckily, people have really been generous.

“I would like to say a massive thank-you to everyone who has donated. It gives us an amazing feeling to know that there are people out there who care about our beloved Finn, even though they’ve never met him.

"The Land Warfare Centre in Warminster donated £200 completely out of the blue, which was really incredible."

Finn will start school in September, going part-time at first, and will have to take tablets every day for the next three years to continue fighting the cancer.

His Mum Debbie, of Haygrove Close, Warminster, said: "I was so emotional when Eli told me that she had been secretly raising money for us to go on holiday, I wanted to cry.

“I always know everything that’s going on in our family, so for her to keep it a secret from me for so long was very impressive.

“It has been an absolutely hideous six months, so we can’t wait for the holiday. It will make a nice change from boring hospital wards.

Finn, his mum Debbie, dad Andy and older brother Archie will visit Center Parcs at Longleat Forest in the summer and are looking forward to having a fun-filled week.

To donate, so that Finn can enjoy more pancakes when he's at Center Parcs, visit: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/FinnsFight