A KIND-HEARTED woman has launched a campaign to pay for a holiday of a lifetime for a father who tragically lost his son and was then diagnosed with cancer.

Emergency transport attendants Ashley and Victoria Jones’s son George died in February when he was just five months old.

He had been born with his bowel, liver and stomach growing outside his body.

The couple had been told George had a number of heart defects and his lungs were not growing properly.

At 11 weeks old he underwent surgery to have his his organs put back inside his body.

His devoted parents were told there was an 80 per cent chance he would not survive surgery, but he did.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

Together - Victoria, George and Ashley 

The couple spent their birthdays and Christmas Day in hospital with George but he eventually lost his battle and died.

While the couple were still grieving over the loss, Ashley, 30, was diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer.

He had fallen ill in September and was diagnosed with the illness earlier this month.

Ashley, of Conies Road, Halstead, will start chemotherapy next week in Colchester General Hospital.

On finding out about Ashley’s cancer, his friend Diane Butcher decided to spearhead a campaign to give the couple a dream holiday with a destination of their choice.

Diane, 53, of Brooklands Road, Brantham, met Ashley when he was working for St John Ambulance in Manningtree, where he grew up, when she was being trained as a First Responder.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

Married - Victoria and Ashley 

She said: “I had met him on several occasions and he was a wonderful person, a little super hero for the community.

“I followed his story on Facebook when he lost his baby son which was so sad, then on top of that he found out he was ill with cancer.”

Diane said Ashley’s story affected her personally as she lost a baby herself 19 years ago.

She said she wanted to make his and Victoria’s lives better by fundraising for a dream holiday for them.

She said: “This is someone who is a local hero and star who has worked countless shifts saving people’s lives, and it would be good to see as a community how we could pull together to help him.

“I will appreciate any help we can get. I want to give them both the Christmas they deserve.”

Diane is in the process of organising events.

She has set up a fundraising page by clicking here.

To get involved with the campaign, call Diane on 07917 401279.