Asif Vali, dad of Zak, makes the plea as his son would have turned 17

Asif Vali’s son Zak should have been celebrating his 17th birthday tomorrow but he tragically lost his battle to cancer at the age of 15 in September, 2015.

Now Mr Vali, who set up the Zak Foundation in memory of his son, is appealing for people to help raise the money to send Kyle Buckley for trial treatment, the 12-year-old’s last hope for lifesaving treatment in his battle against the rare muscle tissue cancer alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

Mr Vali, aged 47, who lives with his family in Lostock, said: “There’s a young boy out there that really needs our support, Kyle Buckley.

“We need to raise money to get him to Germany. We have a chance to help this child.

“We need to help this child now.

“I want the people of Bolton to get behind him and his family and support this child.”

Mr Vali said he has been following Kyle’s battle against cancer.

He said: “ I have been following it and relived it all.”

Zak died following a year-long battle with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer leaving his family — mum Karen, Zara, aged five, Mackenzie, aged 12, Lucas, aged 14, Adam, aged 18, and Saira Hillyard, aged 21, — devastated and determined to help others.

A charity was set up in his memory after the help the family had received from other bereaved parents while in Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The Zak Vali Foundation helps pay for funeral costs when a child dies from cancer and has paid for 15 children’s funerals.

It was launched a year ago on Zak’s birthday and tomorrow a charity sky dive will take place in his memory to raise funds for the foundation.

Mr Vali said: “We saw some very close friends we made while we were on that journey lose their lives, very young people.

“At Christmas people would come and gave you some stuff with a name behind it. Every child received a blanket on the ward in memory of a person.

“So many people would come on to the ward giving things to children suffering from cancer in memory of their own child.

“They fundraise because they want children to be as comfortable as possible. Even as a parent you get a cup and you think ‘we have a cup’. You are there 24/7 and that cup is yours, it’s special.

“When Zak finished his treatment, his favourite dish was chicken biryani so we gave it to everybody on the ward.

“He went to give it to everybody and had such pleasure doing it.”

Mr Vali said: "There are a lot of established charities but there is not a charity that help pay towards a funeral for a charity when a child has passed away.

"I didn't know what a funeral entailed, you don't research it, you don't plan for it.

"My friends and family paid for the funeral and a couple of weeks later I said what the cost was and they said there is no cost.

"I thought we are going to do something for charity.

"No matter how you are you still have got costs. I know because I left work my wife had to leave work, you're into your savings and there is no income coming in, but the bills are the same and you have to carry on the best you can for the other kids.

"So we thought let's pay for three funerals. We were just going to pay for three funerals initially but then it carried on and we have paid for 12 funerals with children with cancer and two other funerals.

"I knew that it difficult for parents and we knew that it would go a long way to helping .

"Nobody can change things that have happened but you certainly can try and help other people, hence the reason we have created the foundation to help other people.

"We get referrals from hospital and do not ask for any background information. We have helped two families outside the scope of cancer because of their circumstances."

Mr Vali, separately from the foundation, volunteers with Bolton Council of Mosques to help organise funerals and services, which he said eases rather than heightens his grief.

He said: "It helps me because I'm helping other families.

"I'm always at the graveyard because I'm close to Zak.

"He's an angel and waiting for these people to come up .

"I say prayers and say to him as their soul comes to heaven to please help them and show them the ropes. I go to Zak's grave and ask him to make sure he helps out."

Mr Vali described the last three years he spent with his family as the most precious of his life.

He said: "You reflect and it doesn't matter what car you drive or how big your house is. It doesn't matter.

"If I could just spend a minute with Zak again that's all I need.

"I travelled a lot because of my career but you should be at home having your tea with the children that's what parents should be doing and that's how it should be."

Mr Vali is still heartbroken after his son's death.

He said: "The first year was very very difficult, because it was the first of everything for me my wife and the other kids, but to get involved in the charity probably eases a bit of pressure.

" I think one of the worst times is when it's the key dates Christmases, new year when families are supposed to be together.

"I have some very bad days, some days you've just other to get away from it all.We are still involved in counselling, no one gets over the fact when they lose a son or daughter.

"I sit next to Zak's grave and I talk to we talk about football and I see a picture of him in my mind talking back to you and laughing and it is their voice you hear back. It helps."

Remembering his son, Mr Vali said: "On April 16 Zak would have been 17 years-old.

"He was football mad, and it was his last wish to go on the pitch and see Steven Gerrard and Bolton Wanderers arranged it with me when they played in the FA Cup so while he was under treatment.

"His smile was infectious he was just a lad who was a bubbly character. If you talked sports with him he's all ears, talk about school there was no chance.

"When you did speak to him he was caring lad that was just trying to grow up and when this horrible disease takes over you."

The charity is run by volunteers and dependent on donations. A number of fundraising events have been organised including a pamper and bubbles event at Lloyd Bank on May 17, Charity Football Match at the Macron Stadium on May 19 and people will be taking part in Ironman UK, Tough Mudder of Bolton Half Marathon. Bereaved parents have also raised money for the charity after hearing about it.

Mr Vali said: "It's tremendous when we get the local companies behind us but the problem is there is not enough of them, Lloyd's have been there from day one but a local business man who pays in a direct debit. We need regular funds coming in.

"The charity needs £100,000 a year, if we have regular payments that is achievable."

To support the charity find out more by visiting http://thezvfoundation.co.uk/