A SCHOOLBOY and brave cancer sufferer will fly out to Turkey on Wednesday to begin vital surgery the NHS cannot fund.

Charlie Ilsley, of Emmer Green, Reading, was diagnosed with a brain tumour called medulloblastoma when he was just eight years old.

He endured emergency surgery to remove the tumour and went through several rounds of chemotherapy and stem cell transplants.

Charlie, 11, was recovering well until his family discovered the tumour had returned in two places on his spine in March this year.

"I was in shock for two weeks when I found out the cancer had returned," said Toni Ilsley, Charlie's mother.

"I just cried all the time. So much goes through your head.

"He seems fine. You would never know there is something wrong with him. He swims and goes to school, he hasn't got any pain."

The soon-to-be Highdown School pupil went through two further rounds of chemotherapy but they failed to stall the growth of the tumour, which has now doubled in size.

A fundraising page was set up to raise £30,000 for Cyberknife treatment, a precise radiosurgery that is only available in Europe and USA.

More than £12,500 has been raised so far and young Charlie will travel to Ankara in Turkey to begin his treatment.

His mother added: "We're so overwhelmed by the support we've had.

"People have stopped us in the street and given us money towards his fund.

"Someone donated £5,000 online.

"I wrote emails to 10 private hospitals in the UK but I didn't hear anything back. The treatment isn't available at The John Radcliffe where Charlie has had his other treatment."

Cyberknife treatment is a precise radiosurgery and is both painless and non invasive.

Charlie will begin treatment on Thursday at Memorial Hospital Ankara after arriving in Turkey on Wednesday evening.

To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/cyberknife-treatment-for-charlie