Since his son Luke died eight years ago, Robert Rowe has campaigned tirelessly for the hospice that cared for him.

Football mad Luke, ten, whose family live in Templars Firs, Wootton Bassett, died of a brain tumour aged six in 2001. Doctors discovered the condition when he was six.

Next month, Mr Rowe, 43, who works in the bereavement field, and wife Nella, 40, an operating department practitioner at the Great Western Hospital, will give a talk at Warminster School where their eldest son Daniel, now 21, was a student.

Headteacher Martin Priestley will also take part in a Sponsored Squashathon to raise funds for the Hospice.

Mr and Mrs Rowe have given a number of talks in schools and colleges in and around Wiltshire and hope to continue to raise awareness for the Little Bridge House at Barnstaple, Devon, by sharing their story.

Mr Rowe said: “Nothing could have prepared us for the devastating news that the consultant gave us.

“The alien vocabulary of medical dramas suddenly became the stuff of every day conversation. Nonetheless, all this invasive, painful, tiring and traumatic treatment worked, Luke’s tumour appeared to have gone.”

For the next year, the family attempted to return to normality. “All seemed to be going so well, that was until we started to notice changes,” said Mr Rowe. “The squint in Luke’s eye had returned, he became unstable and regularly lost his balance.

“An MRI brain scan confirmed our worst fears – Luke’s tumour had returned.

“Nella and I had to make the hardest decision of our lives – we chose quality over possible quantity. It was at this time we were introduced to Children’s Hospice South West.”

Mr Rowe says he could never financially repay the hospice for what it has done – “but what I can do is raise awareness.”

Mrs Rowe added: “I don’t know what we would have done without the hospice.”

The family will visit Warminster School on September 14.

Mr Priestley will take part in a 24 hour sponsored squashathon on September 18. The challenge will finish at midday on September 19 with a showdown against six times British Open Champion Jonah Barrington.

To donate to the event visit www.justgiving.com/squashathon-warminster-school or call Jane Powell on (01275) 86660