A GREAT Sankey family are hoping to raise more than £30,000 for potentially life-saving treatment after 38-year-old Nic Kinley was told nothing else could be done to help her in the UK.

The mother-of-two to Mae, aged eight, and Finn, aged five, has been diagnosed with a very rare form of brain stem tumour and needs to fly to Texas for pioneering treatment.

Nic’s mum Helen, of Audre Close, said: “Houston is the only place where they can try to do something to cure her and that’s the only hope we have.”

Nic was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma on the same day in May 2011 her best friend Melanie O’Neill, was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer, as reported in the Warrington Guardian.

The former Penketh High pupil said: “I started limping, having headaches and my eye sight went funny. I went to the doctor but things got worse, I felt wobbly and my co-ordination was affected.”

A scan revealed the brain stem tumour and Nic’s partner Ceri Morgan, aged 43, says they ‘fell apart’.

Nic said: “I couldn’t believe it.

“I thought of the kids and what I was going to say to them.

“They said they couldn’t get rid of it or use chemotherapy because of where it was positioned.

“I could have radiotherapy but there was just a 10 per cent chance it would control it.

“It sounded very bleak and I felt like I had been written off.”

Six weeks of radiotherapy treatment has stabilised Nic’s condition, as previously she could not walk, hear or see properly, but from now on she will only have scans to check if the tumour has moved.

Nic has been seeing Great Sankey homeopath Mandy Hall while her family has sent her scans all over the world for an alternative.

Comedian Peter Kay provided hope after mentioning on a chat show a doctor in Houston who had been treating people with inoperable brain tumours.

Nic looked him up and found the treatment involves ‘switching on’ genes that fight cancer.

It would mean spending three weeks in Houston before medication would be sent to her home each month.

The total cost of the two year treatment is £200,000 but £30,000 would allow Nic to go to Houston.

Nic and Ceri, who moved to Manchester 11 years ago, will be juggling treatment around their wedding day in May.

The couple met at Ikea, Westbrook and have been together for 15 years and engaged for four.

Nic added: “Wondering what it is every time I have a headache is an awful way to live.

“It’s not a miracle cure but it has helped some people a lot and we have not been given any other option.”

l If you can help Nic visit nicsroadtorecovery.co.uk or e-mail nicsroadtorecovery@hotmail.co.uk for paypal account details