PAUL Ryder is best known as a founder member of Madchester favourites, the Happy Mondays.

But behind the band, the gigs and famous tunes, including 1990 hit Step On, is a dad who is helping his resilient and brave 12-year-old son Chico and others like him kick cancer.

The Ryder family’s world was turned upside-down when the youngster was diagnosed with the rare soft tissue cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, after complaining of a sore throat in November 2012.

A special fundraising event — Chico's Kickin' Cancer — will be held at the Palace Hotel, Manchester, on Friday, October 17, after one planned for July was postponed.

Bass player Paul, from Little Hulton, said: “It’s given me the chance to get more of the people I want who were not around for that date.

“There’s going to be extra people I can’t mention yet.

“There’s going to be a few surprises.”

Heading the bill will be the Happy Mondays, who reformed in January 2012 with their original line-up, including Paul’s brother Shaun, the band’s lead singer, Mark ‘Bez’ Berry and Rowetta Satchell.

Also performing will be fellow Madchester band Northern Uproar, comedian John Warburton, poet Mike Garry, as well as Stone Roses bass player Gary 'Mani' Mounfield DJing with Clint Boon, from the Inspiral Carpets.

Following Chico’s diagnosis, he endured 10 long months of tortuous treatment before the family was given the joyous news by doctors that he was in remission from the cancer in October last year.

Paul, who now lives in LA with Chico and wife Angela, said: “He is still in a wheelchair and he still uses crutches.

“Because of all the chemo, it’s done something to his legs where he can’t put them flat on the ground.

“He’s walking on his tiptoes, with the aid of the crutches.

“He needs more physio.

“He has not moaned all the way through.

“If it was me, I would be moaning.

“He will be able to get to the show this time. He couldn’t really travel before, that was one of the reasons we had to postpone it.”

Money raised will help pay for Chico’s ongoing treatment and to charities including The Christie Hospital in Manchester and a US organisation which supports the use of medical cannabis for children with cancer and other illnesses.

Paul said: “Some is going to Christies, some is going to go to CannaKids for kids with this type of cancer to be treated with cannabis oils.”

As of June 2014, 23 US states have legalised cannabis for medical use and Paul said: “It’s not so taboo. In California, it’s legal, you just go and get a doctor’s note.”

It is almost 35 years since the first incarnation of the Happy Mondays was created at the Ryders’ home in Coniston Avenue and next year will see the 25th anniversary of album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches.

Paul, back with the band for their fourth incarnation, said: “Our success wasn’t an overnight success.

“We had two albums before we had major success, we were together a long time.

“By 1999, we were all exhausted. We didn’t really appreciate what each other did.

“Coming back this time, everyone has got a new appreciation for each other.”

They attracted a number of positive reviews thanks to performances throughout the summer festival season, which saw them play a number of sets at the likes of Kendal Calling and Beat-Herder, Clitheroe.

Paul said: “We enjoyed it, we all thought it was great.

“Ten minutes before we went on at Kendal Calling, it was absolutely chucking it down.

“There were people there waiting in it, crazy.

“Then the rain stopped five minutes before we went on and it was a great show.

“We all played really well, we do these days.

“It probably comes from having 15 years away from each other.

“We are all back to enjoy it.

“It is as crazy as it was but everyone knows when to stop these days.

“Shaun even goes off the stage, into the car and goes out the back gate.

“He is not hanging around for anyone.”

To buy tickets for Chico's Kickin' Cancer, call 01706 650515.