THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised in a matter of hours for a family of fund-raisers who have been rocked by a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Earlier this year the Kay family, supported by friends and family and the Dolgellau community at large, announced they had raised over £9,000 for the Child Growth Foundation.

They money was raised in honour of Elena Kay, a four-year-old who has a condition known as Russell Silver Syndrome, a congenital condition which means she is shorter and slighter than her peers and has little interest in eating so is partially tube fed and also has mobility issues.

“Superstar” Elena has come on “leaps and bounds” as she grows up, but now the Kay family face a terrible new diagnosis.

Tragically Peter Kay, Elena’s father, has been told he has a Grade 4 inoperable and incurable brain tumour.

A fund-raiser has been set up by friends of the Kay family to try and rent a cottage near Ysbyty Glan Clwyd where Peter is receiving his treatment, collecting well over £2,500 in the first 12 hours after the JustGiving page was set up.

Olwen Kay, Peter’s wife, was humbled by the response and determined to make the best of an horrendous situation.

“I never thought we would need a page like this but we are truly grateful to friends that set it up and have offered unwavering support since Pete’s diagnosis in September,” she said. “Pete went to A&E after attending at the opticians due to concerns his sight was failing.

“It wasn’t. Several hours later in Wrexham A&E we were told he had a brain tumour.

For more information, or to donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/keepingthekayfamilytogether

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News