The family of an Orpington dad who was expected to die by Valentine’s Day this year are battling against time to raise £100,000 for alternative cancer treatment.

Adrian Hosken, 39, is determined to live until 2025 to see his nine-month-old daughter Adriela reach her 10th birthday.

For the past five years the dad-of-two has fought a rare stomach cancer which has seen him endure 11 gruelling operations and rounds of chemotherapy.

Along with his wife Angela, 36, they set up the appeal to raise funds for specialist treatment in the hope of extending his life and the time spent with Adriela and their two-year-old son Noah.

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The Hosken family: Noah, Adrian, Adriela and Angela.

Mr Hosken said he is not ready to leave his wife and children.

He said: “I was told I couldn’t have children after my cancer but I did and now I’m determined to spend as much time watching them grow up as I possibly can.

“I was supposed to die on Valentine’s Day this year but I’m still here so I’ve done pretty well to get to this stage.

“I’ve come to the end of the conventional treatment options now though so we are looking at alternative options that might keep me around for as long as possible – so I can spend more precious time with my little babies.”

His wife added: “He really wants his two children to remember him.

“It’s heart-breaking but the family are determined to do all we can to make this a reality.”

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Adrian is determined to see his daughter Adriela reach her 10th birthday.

Mr Hosken’s cancer began when doctors discovered a tumour on his appendix and the organ burst spreading cancer seedlings into the rest of his stomach.

He said he woke up from what should have been a routine 45-minute operation on Valentine’s Day 2011 to discover he had almost died.

The cancer, named adenocarcinoma, kills 90 per cent of those diagnosed within five years.

The family are now looking to explore alternative treatments, such as immunotherapy, after the cancer returned within three months of the last surgery.

In the last month the appeal has raised £25,000 of the £100,000 target.

Friend of the family Dave Mance, who set up the GoFundMe page, said: “We urgently need to raise money for treatment for Adrian.

“His medical bills have reached a point where it is beyond what he and his wife can afford to fund on their own.”

To visit the fundraising page and donate, click here.