THE family of a young cancer victim are keeping his memory alive by offering support to other sufferers.

After conventional treatments failed to save 23-year-old Andrew Moody, his parents, Dave and Christine, found a faint ray of hope in little-known alternative therapies.

Controversial shark cartilage, which was discredited in a recent report, offered them a straw to cling to in Andrew's last desperate months.

Previously, Andrew, a talented horseman, had built up his own livery business at the family farm, in Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, earning him a reputation as one of the country's top breeders of Appaloosa horses.

But in his last months, when his doctors could do no more, Dave, Christine and their 21-year-old daughter, Vicky, looked beyond the normal treatments on offer.

Christine said: "Doctors warned us to be careful, but we had nothing to lose. We were prepared to give it a go.

"We tried B17 which seemed to perk him up and shark cartilage, which seemed to make a big difference. We will never know because we tried it too late but we want to tell other people because it could help."

Trials on shark cartilage are in the early stages so it cannot be prescribed. Andrew's GP Dr Paul Bowron said: "It seemed to work for him but we don't know why."

"So far, the evidence of their success is anecdotal. Unfortunately, most people try it in the later stages of their illness."