A FAMILY are fighting to raise £50,000 to help save their 23-year-old son's life.

Peter Douthwaite, who lives in Potters Bar was devastated when he was diagnosed with a rare tumour in his neck last year.

But despite numerous aggressive treatments, his condition has not improved and no further treatment is available on the NHS.

Now, his only hope is to send his tumour to the Chordoma Foundation in North Carolina to be tested.

A CrowdFunding campaign has already raised £25,000 but they need to raise £50,000.

Angela Douthwaite, his sister, said: "We as a family have been overwhelmed by the amount of support Pete has recieved - it has given him the boost he neded to find the strength to give his body one last push.

"Something needs to change quick because every day we are losing loved ones to this disease but there are other medications available in America."

Pete was diagnosed last February after suffering with neck pain for around 11 months, and his mother pushed for an MRI scan.

He has been in intensive care for the last two weeks but his family, including his father and sister Emily, visit him in the hospital every day.

After multiple surgeries to try and shrink the tumour, Peter and his mother travelled to Switzerland last May to meet with a specialist.

There, he was told the tumour has grown by 20 per cent and after an intensive eight-week treatment, he returned to England in a neck brace.

But this February, another scan showed treatment did not work and the tumour had grown again. Today, he has no feelings in his left arm, hands and neck and is in severe pain.

Determined not to give up, a group of his friends have decided to help raise money by organising a music festival in Potters Bar, which will be held on May 21.

They have also organised a quiz night at the Builders Arms Pub, in Potters Bar, on May 14 and a special 'hair event at dusk' on May 17.

They are also spreading the #ForPetersSake message on social media sites.

To find out more about the events, to donate or to be kept updated with Peter's progress, visit www.forpeterssake.co.uk or visit Facebook page Raising Money For Pete Douthwaite.