AN URGENT appeal has been launched to help a father with terminal cancer get the chance to watch his children grow up.

The family of Michele Ammolla are trying to raise £200,000 to cover the cost of pioneering immunotherapy treatment which could prolong his life.

The 44-year-old, from Findon Valley, Worthing, was diagnosed last year with colorectal cancer which has since spread to his lungs and liver.

He said: “My biggest wish is to see my children grow into young men and be there for them and my wife.

“I want to be able to help and advise them and just look after my family.”

Mr Ammolla is married to Georgina, 38, and the couple live in Parham Road with their two boys, Henry, ten, and William, six, who attend Vale School.

The campaign was launched earlier this month and £6,000 has been raised so far.

Mr Ammolla was first diagnosed in February 2016 and underwent three months of chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation therapy.

His cancer treatment meant the former garden centre worker had to give up his job and he said going through it had been hard at times.

He said: “Initially it was a shock when I was diagnosed but then I decided very quickly to get on with it and be positive.

“I’ve never thought, ‘Why me?’ or anything like that. Cancer does not discriminate and it simply happened.

“I feel it is harder for my family, and especially my wife, watching me go through this.

“We told the children very little other than daddy was having treatments to get better.”

The treatment was successful enough for Mr Ammolla to be able to have surgery in November to remove part of his bowel. However, in March a follow-up scan revealed nodules on his lungs had grown and were cancerous.

There was also cancer in his liver.

Mr Ammolla could live for another two years if he does nothing, but routine chemotherapy would only delay things and would not get rid of the cancer completely.

His consultant has told him his best option is immunotherapy treatment using the drug Keytruda, which is still at a trial stage.

This works by targeting specific cancer cells and has already shown positive results around the world.

Mr Ammolla said he hoped the drug would stop any further growth and kill existing cells.

He could potentially get on to a trial for the drug but this is not guaranteed and fewer than 300 people around the world are being accepted for it.

Only half would actually receive the drug.

Another option is to pay privately for the treatment and avoid the “Russian roulette” of a trial.

Mrs Ammolla said the reaction so far to the campaign had been very positive and they were doing everything possible to spread the word.

She said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support and love we have had to far and we no longer feel like we are on our own with this.

“It has been a difficult year with a lot of highs and lows – a real roller-coaster.

“We were told at first that Michele would not be able to have surgery but then the treatment he had managed to shrink the tumour so that was good news. However, then we were hit by the news about his lungs and liver.

“Michele has been so positive and inspirational throughout all of this.

“We have been able to carry on with our lives and focus on the boys and protect them. We make the most of every single day.

“It was such a blow when doctors told us the cancer was terminal but Michele is determined to try to do something about it.

“He says he is not frightened of death but he is not ready to go yet.

“It has not been easy for us to do this so publicly and to be asking for help like this but we need to do everything we can.”

People can support the family by making a donation at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/michele-ammolla.