A weekly newspaper’s campaign to send a seriously ill teenager to America for vital cancer treatment has been boosted with a £500 donation from Johnston Press.

The JP-owned Mansfield Chad launched a bid about six weeks ago to raise £130,000 so local youngster Josh Hill could go to Florida for proton therapy treatment.

The move came after he was diagnosed with a rare form of prostate cancer earlier this year but denied the treatment closer to home.

Since the paper launched the campaign, generous local people have held a host of charity events in support of 14-year-old Josh, raising £78,000 so far – more than half the target amount.

And Johnston Press has also dug deep to donate £500 itself to the campaign.

Editor Tracy Powell said the campaign had been started after an ‘impassioned plea’ from Josh’s mum.

She said: “They needed the money to get him to America to get some help. Because he is very sick, time isn’t on his side so I thought it was important to get behind that.

“I have been very impressed by the support from the community. People have done all sorts of fundraising things.

“Some people have only donated a few pounds but others have donated thousands. It’s quite heartening to see.

“We are hoping that people will continue to support the campaign and we can actually see Josh get to America for treatment soon.”

Chad editor Tracy Powell and chief reporter Stephen Thirkill, who has reported on the campaign, hand over the £500 cheque to Mike Hyman, right, manager of the Josh Hill Trust Fund.