AN Appleton family are appealing for help to save the life of a young Filipino man who has a life-threatening facial tumour weighing more than 4lbs.

John and Geri Rhodes heard about the plight of 17-year-old Roma through Facebook after several visits to Geri's hometown on the island of Leyte in the Philippines following one of the most destructive storms on record to hit the region in November 2013.

Typhoon Haiyan killed thousands and left a trail of destruction but on top of the ongoing trauma and devastation, Roma also has to deal with being bullied over his facial affliction which has grown so large it affects his speech and hearing.

John, who has 14-year-old daughter Holly with wife Geri, said: "On a personal level I wanted to help as my son Scott died aged 23 of a congenital heart problem.

"Having seen my son deteriorate over a period of years and finally succumb to his illness, I couldn't just sit here and allow this to happen to Roma.

"He was born with the tumour which has slowly grown to cover the right side of his face and will soon get into his airway and stop him from breathing or eating.

"Where Roma lives in Biliran in Leyte, there's no medial facilities equipped to deal with his condition and if he doesn't get any treatment soon he will die."

The couple have been searching to find a charity who can help and currently trustees at the cause Willing and Abel, which provide connections between children in developing nations and specialist centres, helping with visas, passports, transportation and finances, have been discussing how they can raise funds to save Roma's life.

John, aged 68, added: "I can't help him on my own and the church where he lives have been trying to raise funds to send him to America for treatment for the last three years but the people in that area have barely enough money to survive and have so far only raised $1,000.

"It's going to need a lot of funding and I have been in touch with a surgeon in Lymm who has suggested it could need two or three procedures to remove it as well as reconstruction and plastic surgery.

"But we're hoping to salvage a very serious situation and potentially give Roma the chance to survive and live a normal life."

To make a donation to the charity, visit willingandabel.org.uk.