A family from Deal is calling on the community to support a charity darts marathon to help Tommy Wood, a keen young footballer who has been struck down by a rare disease.

The 21-year-old father of toddler Brooklyn was diagnosed with Burkitts lymphoma and in just a month his health has deteriorated rapidly.

He is now in The Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital in Sutton, Surrey, coping with intense daily chemotherapy as an operation cannot be undertaken.

Mr Wood’s aunt Lynn Shaw said: “It seems Tommy is one of the unlucky ones in life.

“The family’s message to him is to keep his chin up, get well soon, we love you and are thinking of you.”

Mrs Shaw, of Birdwood Avenue, Deal, is hoping a bumper number of people turn up at The Alma pub, West Street, Deal, on Saturday, for the charity darts marathon starting at 11am.

There will be food, a disco and raffle, as well as a chance to have a game of darts for a £1 donation.

All cash raised goes to The Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital and also Mr Wood’s family, as he has a partner Demi and Brooklyn, aged 18 months.

Grandmother Mrs Shaw is a member of The Alma’s darts team and is hoping the 12-hour darts throwing session will be a big success.

“We had a fundraising at the weekend at The Magnet in London Road and I must give a big thank you to Castle Taxis for helping to raise money too.”

Mr Wood, of St Martin’s Road, Deal, is a Manchester United supporter and plays for Deal Town Rangers Reserves and the Cambridge Arms. He went to the doctor after finding a lump in his neck, returning for an appointment when it continued to grow.

He went for a scan in London and Mrs Shaw said that before a biopsy could be made the lump had grown three times in size.

She added: “He has been in the Royal Marsden for four weeks. He has been very poorly, can’t walk and has no energy. And Brooklyn is missing his dad like mad.”