Robert Mallam and his family are desperate to try and find a cure

Robert Mallam, 30, from Barry, south Wales, was diagnosed with the tumour in 1997 when he was 24.

He was given the all clear after receiving treatment, but in 2001 doctors told him that the tumour had returned and there was nothing more they could do for him.

But after reading a newspaper article about Don Factor, the son of make up giant Max Factor, being successfully treated for cancer by a clinic in Mexico which uses alternative medication, Mr Mallam is trying to raise £20,000 in order to get the therapy.

Staff at the Oasis of Hope Hospital claim to have a high success rate in curing cancer by using an alternative form of treatment including the intake of laetrile - a compound found in apricot kernels.

I emailed Don Factor and he passed on the telephone number of the Oasis of Hope hospital to me Robert Mallam

They have agreed to try and treat Mr Mallam, but first he must try and raise the thousands needed to pay for the therapy.

"I am being given chemotherapy to prolong my life but it isn't curing the tumour," said Mr Mallam, who worked as a fork lift driver before he became ill.

"After I read the newspaper article, I emailed Don Factor and he passed on the telephone number of the Oasis of Hope hospital to me.

"When I contacted the hospital and told them about my condition they said they were willing to try and help me," he said.

Mr Mallam, who married his childhood sweetheart Emma in September last year, has already defied the odds by becoming a father after being told that the cancer treatment he had received meant he would never be able to have children.

His son Robson was born 11 weeks ago and Mr Mallam is desperate to begin the treatment.

Auction appeal

"Time is of the essence and I just want to be out there now," he said.

"We have already raised about £7,000 but still have a while to go before we reach the target of £20,000," he added.

His wife Emma and mother Anne are helping to co-ordinate the fundraising efforts and have planned a series of events to be held during the summer.

They are now appealing to celebrities and sports stars to donate items to an auction they are planning to hold with all proceeds going towards Mr Mallam's wish to obtain treatment from the Oasis of Hope.