A DEVOTED husband from Welwyn Garden City is desperately trying to fund ground-breaking treatment to save his wife's life.

Christopher Faulkner, 36, of Westly Wood, whose wife Claire, 40, is likely to die of cancer within five years, hopes to send her to a clinic in Houston, Texas, for gene therapy, a technique in its infancy and unavailable on the NHS.

He said: "I am a desperate husband, and I will try anything.

"If we could fund the gene therapy and it worked, it would be a dream come true."

The couple got engaged last Christmas in the shadow of Claire's breast cancer diagnosis, and she took a two-week break from chemotherapy to stop the unpleasant side effects spoiling her wedding in October.

Christopher, an IT manager, said: "We want the gene therapy to run alongside the chemotherapy.

"Unfortunately it is expensive."

They estimate the costs of the treatment, which will need several stays in the USA, at £65,000, and, with the help of family and friends, have arranged a series of fundraising events.

Claire, who has two daughters from a previous relationship, said: "If everybody gave just a few pounds, it would help me have more time with my children and my lovely new husband.

"All I want is to see my kids through their childhood. To see them walking down the aisle to get married, and for them to give me grandchildren, would be my greatest wish."

With £15,000 raised from family donations, Claire will travel to Houston in January for tests and initial treatment, but the couple will continue to try to raise the money to complete the therapy.

They are also anxiously awaiting the latest results for chemotherapy, which has so far failed to stop the cancer spreading to her neck and lungs, although the initial tumour in her breast has been removed.

The next fundraising event is a disco with buffet and a live band at the QEII Hospital's social club on January 8.

Tickets for £10 are available by emailing rachel.rock@ntlworld.com , while donations can be made at www.clairefaulkner.co.uk/fundraising.html.