A MUM whose husband has been given just months to live with a rare cancer has called on people to back Prospect Hospice's appeal for funds.

Dad-of-two Steve Brammer had battled a the brain condition since suffering a seizure after returning from a Brecon Beacons hike in July.

Surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy seemed to fend it off. But the 37-year-old had another fit earlier this month while enjoying a post-Clap for Carers walk with his family.

His wife Katie called 999 while neighbours shielded Jack, five, and Charlie, two, from the upsetting sight of their dad going into an ambulance. Steve then received the grim news that his life expectancy had gone from eight years to eight months.

Prospect Hospice in Wroughton has been supporting the Taw Hill family.

Steve said: “It was a surprise because we thought the fight was going really well. Now we’re just trying to carry on. It took me a while to process, it’s pretty awful news to get when you’re 37.”

Katie said: “Half an hour after clapping for the NHS, we were calling them for help, it was horrendous. To hear that the tumour had returned was soul-shattering.

“Steve’s only wish was to take the boys to see the castle at Disneyland Paris. We had lots of memory-making plans like that for this year but I don’t think we’ll be able to do them at all.

“The lockdown has affected him because he can’t see people and he’s missing going to the pub or out for a meal, but he is as strong and positive as he can be, he’s remarkable.

“It’s very sad but we are trying to make the most out of what we have got, looking through old memories and spending time together. We can’t change it and we don’t want to remember these months as a miserable time.

“Jack asks questions about when Daddy’s going to get better, which is the worst bit, but we are slowly introducing him to the situation, and Prospect Hospice is good at helping children with grief.”

To beat chemo fatigue in 2019, fitness fan Steve climbed Snowdon alone and took part in Run the Rainbow, a couch-to-5k event after his craniotomy.

He said: “Mountains are my favourite thing. Hiking and running kept my energy up all the way through and it was a way of staying positive every day.

“Katie’s been struggling but a lady from Prospect calls every day to check in on her. The cancer makes it hard to plan ahead but we’ve had a lot of support from family and it’s been nice to spend more time with the kids.”

One bright spot amidst all this bad news has been a Prospect Hospice fundraiser organised by Katie which raised more than £3,000 in one week for the charity’s urgent appeal.

Katie added: “Prospect has been amazing at supporting us ever since he was first diagnosed last July and we wanted to thank them for all that they have done. I hope that they will still be here in the coming months when we may need it most of all. Lets help them to help us.”

Steve added: “Seeing the number of people who have chipped in, even some who I knew back in primary school, it’s been incredible and brought a lot of strength to us. I want to help make sure that Prospect gets through this pandemic and keeps providing its amazing support.”

Head of income at Prospect Hospice Sheryl Crouch said: “It’s heartwarming to know that at such a sad time for this family they’ve come together to support us in this way.

“We’re incredibly grateful to them for this phenomenal fundraising effort. Even though lockdown is still in effect, we’re still out there looking after our patients and their families in their own homes, and the support from the Brammer family is going to go a long way to helping us reach even more people.”