IT’S difficult to imagine more devastating news than being told you have a terminal brain tumour at the age of just 26.

But brave Anthony Bowes found he had a friend in his corner as he faced up to the fight of his life after receiving that heart-breaking diagnosis.

Scans revealed the tumour in July 2016 after the personal trainer, from Astley Bridge, began suffering seizures.

But despite undergoing surgery in a bid to treat the malignant growth, doctors gave him the shock news it was incurable in November of the same year

Yet close pal Dean Parton, from Tonge Fold, says his friend has remained incredibly upbeat despite receiving what for many would have been a shattering blow.

The 22-year-old said: “Ant’s a very nice guy and very strong as well, the way he is dealing with it at the moment.

“He’s had to come out of work,but he is taking it quite well from what we can see. He’s a fighter and has a very strong mind.

“It’s been emotional, upsetting but with him being so positive we try to keep positive with him.

“Until he takes his cap off and you see his scars you don’t realise. He is happy with life, he's an upbeat guy."

But Mr Parton was determined to raise money to help make his friend’s life better.

“I just wanted to do something for him to get a bit of money so he can go on holiday or something like that," he said.

He hit on the idea of taking part in a white collar boxing event at the Macron, launched an online fundraising page and threw himself into eight weeks of training.

On the night judges awarded the fight to his opponent. But his friend was there on the night to support him, and cheer him on as he took to the ring.

Mr Parton said: “He was basically in my corner, when other people sat down, he was stood up. I could hear him when I was in the ring.

“Afterwards he told me he was proud of me and told me I fought my heart out.”

Do donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fighting-for-anthony