A FAMILY have embarked on a race against the clock to raise funds towards alternative cancer treatment after rock drummer Gerry Hunt was told the NHS had exhausted all available therapies.

Gerry, 62, who plays with local band Shred, was diagnosed with follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2011 before entering remission in 2013. Yet by August of that same year he was told the cancer had returned.

Following an aggressive course of chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, his relatives believed he would finally be out of danger.

But the drumming teacher, from Wroughton, experienced another setback and has now been given between two and four months to live.

His sons Darren and Jamie and the rest of the family, including his daughter-in-law Lindsay, are prepared to do anything to collect funds to cover the cost of private clinical trials and dietary treatments not yet offered on the NHS.

“It now looks like he has exhausted all options on the NHS and without treatment he has two to four months,” said Lindsay, 34. “We are all desperately trying to find alternative treatments to help him. The cancer came back in July 2013 and he started intensive chemotherapy in August and stem cell transplant in December. He has tried everything you can imagine. “He was poorly and was just starting to improve when we found out two weeks ago that it had come back already.

“It was a shock. He has been through so much and through the strongest chemo you can possibly have. “It looked like he was coming out of it. It was devastating.

“We were told doctors had exhausted all options on the NHS. Without any treatment he has two to four months.

“We are looking at dietary treatments and private trials. “We could have something done quicker with money. My husband Jamie and his brother Darren are looking at the options.”

Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system, which forms part of the body’s immune system.

His son and fellow Shred bandmates will be holding a concert on Saturday, May 3 at Rodbourne Cheney Working Men’s Club.

“We are hoping that Gerry will be strong enough to play,” added the mother-of-two from West Swindon. “Gerry is so determined to find something. He is not giving up and he has been very positive.

“If we could sell 200 tickets we could make £1,000. Even if we don’t make a lot of money it will be a fantastic night for him.”

The concert will start at 6pm. Tickets are £5. To book, make a donation towards Gerry’s treatment or donate raffle prizes email Carole Hunt on misspigginpig@virginmedia.com