A fundraiser has been launched for a County Durham family who have been told they have to pay for IVF treatment following multiple rounds of chemotherapy.

Just months after James and Laura Butler, 31 and 38, from Barnard Castle tied the knot in December 2021, they were hit with the worst news a family could ever face.

James was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis after lumps were found on his lungs. However, he was later found to have stage 4 T cell non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Before a gruelling 16 rounds of chemotherapy, James was told to freeze his sperm so he could one day fulfill his dream of being a dad as the treatment would make him sterile.

Now, after a remarkable recovery, after being told he had just a 15% chance of surviving, he is living his life to the full - and now dreams of starting a family.

However, the couple say they have been told should they want IVF, they'll have to pay. 

NHS guidelines for people under 40 wishing to have IVF must meet 'NICE' recommendations or other criteria, laid out on its website.

Andrea Rymer, 38, is a family friend of the Butlers. She told The Northern Echo that she set up a GoFundMe in a bid to make their dream come true.

She said: "I just thought, I am going to make that money. I have to do that for Laura and James."

"He has to have that chance of being a dad."

So far, Andrea has raised more than £2,200 but there is still a long way to go.

She said: "To have raised this money so far is just absolutely brilliant. In Barnard Castle, everybody helps each other.

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"You could be lowest of the low and someone would be there to help you."

As for how Laura and James feel, Andrea says they are "very humbled" by the support.

She added: "People like that who don’t ask for anything, who don’t ask for help, they are the ones who deserve it."