ANGEL-FACED Ruddi Waterworth-Jones is facing a desperate fight for life.

The eight-month-old, from Lowergate, Paddock, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when he was just six months old.

He has rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue.

No-one knows why people get it.

Only 60 children a year are diagnosed with the disease in the UK.

Ruddi is having chemotherapy and is due to have surgery to fight the large tumour on his prostate.

Mum Ali Jones, 37, said: “People say ‘It’s not fair’ far too much – it’s such an overused complaint.

“But this really isn’t fair. He’s only eight months old, he has never done anything wrong to anyone. Why on earth has this happened to him?

“I lost two babies during pregnancy last year and Ruddi was such a wanted baby.

“Some days I think this can’t be happening.”

The tot had been perfectly healthy before he started to experience problems going to the toilet when he was seven months old.

His GP treated him for constipation, teething problems and even asthma before Ali, who works for Cedar Court Hotel, decided to take him to hospital.

She said: “One night I just said: ‘I’m taking him to the hospital.’ It was about 5.30am and I took him to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

“They thought it was a bowel blockage and transferred him to Calderdale. They thought it was something to do with his kidneys.”

Ruddi was transferred to St James’s Hospital in Leeds six weeks ago, where the cancer was diagnosed.

His dad Craig Waterworth, 28, said: “When we got the news it was absolutely soul-destroying.

“We had been holding on to the glimmer of hope that it might be something else, then when they told us, we went into shock.”

Ruddi started chemotherapy at the start of this month but, in a further blow, he suffered liver failure and was in a critical condition for a week before recovering.

He now faces six more months of chemotherapy and an operation to remove the tumour.

Ali said: “He’s such an ace baby, really lovely and happy.

“Before he was diagnosed, we signed him up with a modelling agency because everyone would comment on how cute he was.

“The one thing that is a positive is that Ruddi doesn’t know what he is going through, he isn’t aware. But on the other hand he can’t tell us when he is hurting.”

She paid tribute to family and friends for their support. A group on the social networking website Facebook – Support Ruddi Bob – already has more than 1,000 members.

Craig, who works in the sports department at Calderdale College and manages Golcar United FC, added: “The hospital staff have been like superheroes.”

The family have set up a trust fund to raise cash for the hospital and for charity. They want people to donate and also to come up with fundraising ideas.

To donate direct to the fund, contact Ali’s father, Malcolm Binns, on 01422 825957, or e-mail m_binns@sky.com.

To offer fundraising ideas e-mail her sister, Charlotte Weedon, at binnsy77@hotmail.com