A young dad handed a devastating cancer diagnosis says the hardest part is knowing he will not live to see his baby daughter grow up.

Stephen Addley, from Dover, was told by doctors he only had months to live just three weeks after proposing to his partner, Hannah Jones.

The 23-year-old was first diagnosed with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma in March after noticing a lump on his abdomen.

He underwent surgery to remove it in July, which left him with 77 staples across his stomach.

This was successful, and he was told he should go on to live a normal life.

But tragically, in October - shortly after asking Hannah to be his wife - Mr Addley was told the rare cancer had returned.

Operating was no longer an option due to it attaching to his bowel, and he was told chemotherapy would not stop the aggressive mass from spreading.

Now, Stephen is focused on making precious memories with Hannah and his 14-month-old daughter, Liberty-Rose.

He told KentOnline: “The hardest part is knowing I won’t get to see her grow up.

“Even from the first time around, that was something going through my head.

“It's a tough pill to swallow, but you just need to enjoy and try to do things while you can.”

To help Stephen make the most of the time he has left with his daughter and fiancée, a GoFundMe was set up by the family’s neighbours in Bunkers Hill Avenue.

It is hoped it will fund a holiday for the trio and a short-notice wedding.

Stephen said: “The fundraiser was really set up so I can appreciate the time I've got left with Hannah and Liberty-Rose.

“To make sure they have the best memories.”

Hannah, 23, added: “We're hoping that there's enough money in there to get married and take her somewhere nice.

“We want Disneyland, but it will depend on his health whether they let him go or not.

“If not, we'll want to do something nice in the UK.”

The tragic news has shattered the family’s plans for the future.

Stephen - who worked as a bin man before his illness - explained: “I think the biggest thing is, where I'm so young, I've not managed to build up enough to leave her behind.

“I feel like I'm not actually really leaving her anything that can help her and our future.

“So, obviously, anything left from the fundraiser that we don't use will just go straight to her future.”

Hannah is now facing being a single parent, and their one-year-old will grow up without her dad.

She said: “I lost my dad two years ago, so I know how that feels, and obviously she's a hell of a lot younger than me, so she'll have her whole life without her dad. It’s not nice.

“We had a lot of plans. We wanted to save money up for her, so when she moves out, she's got enough money for a mortgage on a house and stuff.

“It's just things like that that I won't be able to fulfil on my own.

“It’s quite sad, because she'll always have everything - I'd go above and beyond for her - but she would have had a decent savings behind her when she moved out, which she won't have, because I'll have to use that money for her now.”

The couple had even purchased a dog after Stephen’s surgery, but had to rehome it with a neighbour when the tumour returned.

The cancer is very rare, with only about 70 people being diagnosed with it in the UK every year.

It stems from an underlying condition called neurofibromatosis type 1, which causes tumours to grow in different areas of the body. These can then become malignant.

Stephen is urging people to get checked if something doesn’t seem right.

“Normally, I wouldn't get something checked out,” he said.

“It was just off the off chance I actually went the first time around.

“If you find something that worries you, just don't be scared to get it checked out.”

Stephen also says he was not told he was supposed to have annual check-ups for neurofibromatosis type 1, to monitor the condition of any tumours.

“If people have been diagnosed with it, then push to make sure you are checked yearly,” he added.

The fundraiser has already seen an amazing £6,629 donated towards the £8,000 target. You can donate here.

The couple hope to get married this month, and local venues have already reached out offering to help.

The pair have been blown away by the generosity they have received.

Stephen said: “Thank you to our neighbours and everyone who has sent messages which have been really lovely and offered to help with everything.

“Thank you to everyone - including people we don't know - who have supported us through the money on the GoFundMe already.”