PUBLISHED: 20/2/2007

WELL-WISHERS are rallying round to help a Swansea store man struck with a rare form of life-threatening testicular cancer.

Twenty-six-year-old Westley Roach's plight has touched the hearts of some well-known sports stars including the Liverpool FC, Welsh boxing ace Joe Calzaghe and Bonymaen bruiser Enzo Maccarinelli.

Gloves signed by the boxers and shirts signed by the Anfield aces and Llanelli Scarlets are going up for auction at Ammanford's Aman Centre on Saturday, February 24.

Westley, who worked for LG Fasteners in Llansamlet for five years before falling ill, has been battling his condition for a year.

He has had two gruelling operations and chemotherapy. But now cancer has spread to his lungs.

Already friends and workers at LG Fasteners have donated cash to help pay for special treatment for popular Westley.

"I may have to go to America for treatment," said the father-of-one, of Maes-yr-Haf, Ammanford.

"I have a rare form of cancer and I am starting chemotherapy this week (FEB 19).

"They are trying an experimental form of double chemotherapy on me.

"I am being treated in the Royal Marsden and it's supposed to be the best hospital in Europe for this. The doctors have said they have never seen a cancer like mine.

"It hasn't been touched by the chemotherapy.

The former Ammanford comprehensive schoolboy added: "People have been great. They have donated a lot of stuff. There's even a baseball cap signed by three former world champions.

"I can't thank people enough for what they are doing for me.