Doreen CFA is calling on the community to help one of its junior members receive ground-breaking cancer treatment in the US that could save his life.

The brigade is hoping to raise more than $100,000 to help Matthew Temby, 13, in his battle with a rare and aggressive cancer.

This follows him being accepted into an exclusive two-year medical trial at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda in the US.

Matthew was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer in June, a rare form of cancer brought on by a condition known as MEN2B which causes tumours in hormone glands.

The tumour is too big for surgery and there is no form of conventional treatment for the condition in Australia.

Matthew has to rely on a tracheotomy tube to breathe.

He flew to the US on Saturday to begin an extensive 10-week medical trial to combat the illness.

He was escorted to the airport by a convoy of fire trucks and seen off by more than 200 CFA volunteers.

PICTURES: CFA trucks take Matthew to the airport.

Matthew’s father, Steve, is a third lieutenant with the Doreen brigade and was on the front line in Humevale during the Black Saturday fires.

Matthew is a member of the junior brigade.

Doreen CFA second lieutenant Chris Maries said that while the brigade had thrown its support behind the family, Matthew’s parents faced a tough time financially.

While the medical treatment and accommodation was free, Matthew’s family had to find the money for airfares to return every two months for a year following the initial treatment.

Mr Maries said a trust fund had been started to help cover the airline costs.

“We just want to give Matthew the best chance he can to spend as much time as he can with his family,” Mr Maries said.

Mr Temby acknowledged that it was going to be tough to fund the airfares, but said the family was determined to do everything it could to give his son a chance.

The treatment, which involves taking an experimental oral solution, is designed to shrink the tumour so doctors can operate.

Mr Temby said he was optimistic that the treatment would work.

DONATIONS:

Credit card or PayPal - go to http://everydayhero.com.au/matthewtemby (tax deductible).

Direct deposits - Bendigo Bank: BSB 633 000. Account: 137 812 616.

Cheque - The Matthew Temby Fund, PO Box 59, Doreen, Vic, 3754.

Source: Whittlesea Leader

Here is a video of the convoy;