LAST summer, William Randall's family were looking forward to his second birthday when his mother Barbara took him to the doctor to check out an apparently small problem with one of his eyes. By the end of that week, William had seen a specialist and had that eye removed - victim to a rare cancer that affects only a small number of children in the UK. KATE HUGHES meets William and Barbara to find out the whole story.

THE phrase 'brave little boy' seems an understatement for someone as adorable as William Randall.

Last summer two-year-old William had his right eye removed when it was discovered he had a rare form of cancer and his family's world was "tipped upside down".

His mum, Barbara, had noticed an unusual reflection in William's eye and took him to the doctor.

Although the GP could not see a problem, Barbara was insistent she was referred to an eye specialist in Redditch.

That was on the Monday. It was confirmed to be cancer on the Thursday and, by the Friday, William's eye had been removed, just one week before his second birthday.

The family, of Shaw Lane, in Stoke Prior has been through a traumatic time but Barbara says she and her husband, Andy, had no choice but to cope. "It all happened so quickly we didn't have time to get used to the idea," she said. "Although he was very ill, he wasn't poorly. He still needed to be fed and looked after and played with so it was a very strange time for us,".

Retinoblastoma cancer affects, on average, one child a week in the UK and the tumour usually develops before they are five years old.But it has one of the best cure rates of all children's cancers and more than nine out of 10 children with the disease can be successfully treated, although many lose one eye and some lose both.

William was fitted with an artificial eye, which is a perfect match to his other eye and will be changed as he grows.It has to be taken out each month to be cleaned and although this is now done by a specialist in Birmingham, eventually William will do it for himself.

The family are now awaiting the results of a blood test which will show how likely it is that his other eye could be affected and whether he will be susceptible to other cancers later in life. Should his eye be free of cancer, William will still have to have it checked every three months until he is 16.

Due to the rarity of this kind of cancer, awareness of the disease is very low. Yet there is an organisation for those affected. The Retinobla toma Society

raises awareness among health professionals, supports parents and funds research.

Barbara's brother is running the London Marathon in aid of the society and Barbara, is holding a charity ball, 'William's Eye Ball' on Sunday, May 4. She said: "The society wants to raise awareness and I hope to raise £3,000 to produce leaflets."

Tickets for the evening, at Chateau Impney, Droitwich, have already sold out. But Barbara still needs help with the raffle. If you can help, contact her on 07941 504568. For more information on retinoblastoma contact the society on 0207 600 3309.