'I'm using my terminal cancer diagnosis to support my grandson with cancer'

'We're very positive, and we have a lot of laughs', Dave Hobbs explains how nothing is off limits when it comes to talking about cancer with his grandson

A grandfather from Cardiff is using his own terminal cancer diagnosis to support his eight-year-old grandson, who has been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer.

Dave Hobbs, from Rhiwbina, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December and was told he had around 10 months to live.

He said chemotherapy reduced the size of his tumour by around a third, despite being warned there was a 4% chance of the treatment being effective.

Harvey Hobbs was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis - which affects around 50 children a year in the UK - earlier this summer and is now undergoing chemotherapy.

Speaking to ITV News with Harvey by his side, Mr Hobbs demonstrated how he makes light of the situation and ensures his grandson does not feel alone.

"Harvey was diagnosed with cancer as well," he explained.

"The only trouble was, Harvey had to have special cancer, he wouldn't have an ordinary cancer - I had an ordinary cancer, so I was a bit jealous of Harvey for that."

Mr Hobbs said: "The hardest thing was telling my family and friends. Then we got the news about Harvey.

"To say it was a double whammy was a complete understatement, we were just massively taken back by it.

"The good news is the prognosis is good, we're really very positive with everything.

"Emotionally, it's been a rollercoaster, because we have good days, we have not so good days."

In January, around 250 people took part in a fundraising challenge to run 100 kilometres for charities chosen by Mr Hobbs, including Cardiff Mind and Velindre.

The '100K for Hobbsy' fundraisers recently celebrated reaching their £100,000 target.

Since Harvey's diagnosis, fundraisers have set up a new project named 'Hands up for Harvey', which has raised more than £11,000.

Mr Hobbs described the local community as "absolute rocks".

"The kindness that people have shown, it just blows you away," he added.

He also praised teachers and pupils Harvey's school, Llanishen Fach Primary, for their support and fundraising.

He said the family has tried to remain positive and not take things too seriously.

"You do get some dark days, but we're very positive and there's a lot of fun, and we have a lot of laughs.

"We speak, we're very open about it as well, there's nothing off the agenda.

"We talk about the cancer, and the effects of it, and what we can expect. The more we talk about it the easier it is."

Harry Trelawny, who has helped run fundraising events for the family, described Dave as "one of the kindest men you'll ever meet".

"When we got the phone call saying he was terminally ill at the time, we said we wanted to be with him for the entire time he's in this fight," he said.

"Now we want to be with Harvey as well, offering whatever support we can, while they're in the fights they're in."