A WREXHAM man has raised £5,000 to send his father who has incurable cancer on a dream holiday to Disneyland Paris with his grandchildren.

Community champion Ken Hughes, 65, is undergoing treatment for bone marrow cancer, but his family hope he can take a break later this year to fulfil a long-held wish to attend the entertainment resort with Emily, Alice, Leah, Joshua and Cairo.

Ken's son, Chris, says he has been amazed by people’s generosity with the target figure met through a GoFundMe page in just 29 days.

Ken, a retired painter and decorator from Holt, is well known for his work coaching youth football teams over the years at Brickfield Rangers and Smithfield.

He was one of the founders of Erddig Youth Club and worked there as volunteer for 20 years until his illness. He also renowned for donning the festive regalia as Santa at Erddig Hall and has fondly kept all the letters that children penned to him.

"We didn't realise how well liked my father was until we started the fundraising. So many children in Wrexham and then their children have grown up with my dad because of all the youth work he has done," said Chris.

"Ken lives for his grandchildren. It is so sad as he is so young and full of life. But he is not going anywhere yet and he has told us that the one thing that he wants to do is to go with all of us to Disneyland Paris."

The family were shocked to learn that Ken was suffering with Multiple Myeloma after he was admitted to hospital suffering from flu before Christmas.

He is being treated at Wrexham Maelor Hospital's Shooting Star Unit, although his family has been told the long-term prognosis is not favourable.

"He is being looked after extremely well and while we were shocked at first it has pulled us all together. The grandchildren, who are aged from two to 10 are so dear to him," added Chris, who will be joining his wife, Caroline, and his sister, Katy, and her partner, Jay, on the trip of a lifetime.

Ken's brother, Dave, and long-time friend Sue have also been invited to attend.

The family plan to continue the fundraising for a time and Chris has the Chester half marathon in his sights in May to raise extra funds.

See www.gofundme.com/jzm6z-help-my-dads-dream-come-true?