THE tragic story of an Odiham family left devastated after losing a mother and son to cancer will be aired to the nation tonight to help raise money for Stand Up To Cancer.

Mark Keville and his children Harry, 20 and Lara, 18, have thrown their weight behind the fundraising campaign by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 because they are determined to do what they can to help save more lives more quickly.

Their lives were torn apart when mum-of-three Kate died from breast cancer in 2011, having found a lump on Christmas Day 2008.

But as they tried to move on, the family were rocked once again when two years later Robbie, the youngest member of their family, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

He died in February this year, aged 10.

Recalling the day his wife discovered the lump in her breast, Mark said: “Kate was having a shower and came down in tears on Christmas Day morning. She said ‘I’ve found a lump in my breast - it might be nothing but I’ve got a horrible feeling it’s you-know-what’. Somehow she took a deep breath and got through the day”.

Kate underwent three years of treatment before she died in 2011.

He added: “Kate was given six weeks to live on Friday, December 16, 2011 and, in the car on the way back home from the hospital, we decided that we needed to talk about her wishes.

“We planned to do it the next day but never managed it as she was tired when we got home and died on the Monday morning. I know that Kate’s wishes would have been all about the children.”

Robbie was just six-years-old at the time and vowed to become a doctor to help others like his mummy.

However, two years later he was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumour. He had radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Southampton General Hospital for one year before he went into remission.

Mark said: “As he was eight years younger than Lara, he was something of a celebrity amongst our family and friends.

“After his diagnosis, he was an inspiration to everyone with his irrepressible personality and energy. He was a very intelligent boy and attracted many supporters and followers throughout his treatment.”

Tragically, a routine scan in October 2015 found that Robbie’s cancer had come back.

Mark recalled: “Whilst the diagnosis was a terminal one - and this was explained to Robbie - he chose never to ask about this aspect of his illness again.”

Robbie’s cancer progressed rapidly and he died at the family home in Odiham, surrounded by Mark, Harry and Lara, on February 8 this year.

Mark said: “Before Robbie died, and with all of us there, I told him how deeply proud we were of him and how much we loved him.

“Thankfully there was nothing we wanted to say to him that we didn’t get to say, even telling him that it was okay to let go and leave us”.

As well as backing Stand Up To Cancer, the family run their own charity which was thought-up and named by Robbie.

Called “robbiesrally” it helps children with brain tumours and their families and will support the work carried out to help youngsters like Robbie at Southampton General Hospital.

Rachel Carr, head of Stand Up To Cancer, said: “The Keville family has been through so much. Because of cancer they lost both Kate and Robbie who should’ve had years ahead of them, together with their family.

“Their story is an example of the devastation that cancer can cause and reminds us why it is so important that the nation gets behind Stand Up To Cancer by raising money for vital research. We’re so very grateful to the Kevilles for sharing their experience.

“One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime and that statistic is the driving force behind the fantastic partnership Cancer Research UK has established with Channel 4. Together, through Stand Up To Cancer, we are determined to raise money to save more lives, more quickly.”

Launched in the UK in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer has already raised more than £25million to fund translational research, which takes developments in the lab and transforms them into brand new tests and treatments for cancer patients.

Every day, around 130 people are diagnosed with cancer in the South East.

By joining Stand Up To Cancer, supporters will be uniting with doctors, nurses, scientists and celebrities to generate funds, raise awareness and help accelerate progress in life-saving cancer research.

Stand Up To Cancer is supported by a host of celebrities including Davina McCall and Alan Carr. This year’s campaign culminates tonight with a night of live TV on Channel 4 led by the brightest stars in film, TV and music.