THE FAMILY of a young boy battling cancer have urged readers to continue supporting him as his recovery enters a crucial stage.

Connor Whipp, of Hospital Bridge Road, Whitton, is nearing the end of a six-month course of treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The five-year-old has responded reasonably well to treatment and doctors say there is now no evidence of cancer – but his fight is far from over.

About 80 per cent of children with neuroblastoma, the rare but often fatal disease affecting Connor, relapse within two years of completing their initial treatment, many within the first 12 months, according to the charity Families Against Neuroblastoma (FAN).

Captain Connor, as the comic book fan is known for his brave attitude to ‘fighting the baddies within’, has been overwhelmed by the public’s generosity so far.

Well-wishers have already donated more than £200,000 towards his cause – to pay for treatment available only in Germany, should his cancer return – but at least another £50,000 is needed.

Connor’s grandmother, Mary Power, this week issued an emotional appeal to Chronicle readers to help Connor reach his target.

“We need this money in place as soon as possible because the risk of a relapse is particularly high in the first few months after treatment finishes,” she said.

“The last few months have been particularly hard for Connor, but he’s such a little fighter. He’s still battling those baddies within.”

Mrs Power will be collecting for the appeal at Twickenham Stadium tomorrow (Saturday), ahead of the England rugby teams’s Six Nations match against Scotland.

Volunteers have dried up recently, with some people wrongly believing Connor’s recovery to be complete, so she urged people to get in touch if they could help rattle collections buckets on the day.

A spokeswoman for FAN said Connor’s appeal was one of its top priorities because the youngster, who was diagnosed just over a year ago, on January 11, 2012, was at such a crucial stage.

She said the money would be used only if required to pay for Connor’s treatment or, should he not need it in the long run, that of another child with neuroblastoma, which affects about 100 children a year in the UK.

n If you can help by collecting for Connor tomorrow, please call Mrs Power on 0788 9670 653. For more about the appeal, visit www.captainconnor.org