Blackpool schoolboy Kai raises £1,000 for dad after cancer shock

And the devastated 10 year has old has succeeded, helping to raise £1,000 towards a special holiday after begging his mum and gran to help him find a way to do something for his dad,

Young Kai, of Saville Road, was with dad Rob Ryder back in April when the 42 year old doorman fell down stairs at his home and was collapsed in agony on the floor.

What no one knew then was that Rob's leg pain, which had been giving him trouble for some time, wasn't sciatica as he believed.

After being rushed to hospital with a suspected broken leg, it was discovered that the pain was cancer in his hip.

Even more shocking,it was secondary cancer, having spread from the primary source of the disease, a tumour in his colon that had been silently growing for almost a year,

And in June, self-employed Rob was told the cancer had spread to his bones, meaning Rob was beyond a cure.

Friends rallied and one pal raised £1,500 for Rob while he struggled with loss of income while making benefit claims.

But Kai, who attends Thames Primary School and lives with mum Toni Travis and his older brother Haydyn, was desperate to do his bit too.

Gran Jeanette Hyde , 60, who lives opposite Kai on Saville Road, Blackpool, said: "He is only young but he knows what cancer is and how serious it is.

"He came over the road to me and asked if I could him do something to help him help his dad.

"He was alone with his dad when at the time he fell down the stairs and since then he's been desperate to try and do something.

"We suggested a raffle to raise money for a nice holiday, where his dad could get away for a bit, and we worked with Kai to get raffle prizes.

"We went around to shops and pubs asking is they could spare any raffle prizes and when they heard what Kai telling them about his dad, they just wanted to help.

"He even had a little T-shirt, My Dad, My Hero.

"It all came from Kai, it was in his little head what he wanted to try and do.

"Shops donated gift sets and one lady even offered a Cinderella coach and horse ride along the prom, as a main prize."

The fund-raising event was staged at the Crazy Scots Bar, Rigby Road, on August 2, where landlord Hamish Howitt put some extra money behind the bar, to help.

When the funds finally added up to £1,000, Kai and Rob were both overcome with emotion.

Kai, who plays for Foxhall Junior FC, said: "I wanted to help dad and I asked my mum and my nan what I could do.

"When we did the raffle and raised a thousand pounds I was shocked and pleased - and so was my dad.

"Now he can have a holiday and I'm just glad I helped."

Rob, who now lives on Sylvia Road, Chorley but spent 10 years living in Blackpool where he worked as a doorman at The Syndicate, The Manchester and Soul Suite, said: "Kai is already one of the people who have a heart of gold and I am so proud of him.

"When his mum and his nan were both ill a while ago, he was there, trying to help them.

"I had no idea about this fundraising, to be honest I didn't really want any fuss.

"But when they got me to the Crazy Scots bar I couldn't believe what they had planned for me.

"I didn't want to cry in front of Kai, because there have been enough tears, but it was obviously incredibly emotional.

"And the thing is, it was all his idea."

Rob, who has an older son Jordan, 23, says he doesn't know how the disease will progress or what his immediate future holds and he will always need chemotherapy.

But in the meantime a holiday to Egypt is being planned for February with Rob and his wife Nicola and her daughter Poppy, aged 11.

And that's all down to Kai, wanting to help.