A BRAVE cancer survivor is hosting a live music event to help raise money for a brain injury charity which helped aid his recovery.

Michael Gates, 34, is holding the Gatesy’s Charity Night featuring the band Special Measures at Frinton Golf Club on Saturday, October 28 to raise money for Headway, a charity which has supported him for the past few months.

Michael, from Walton, discovered he had a malignant brain tumour two years ago after he started to suffer from headaches and dizziness which woke him up in the night.

In February 2015, he went to A&E where a CAT scan revealed the tumour.

Over the course of a month he underwent two operations to drain fluid from around the brain and completely remove the tumour at Queens Hospital in Romford.

The tumour was grade four neuroblastoma – a rare form of cancermost commonly found in children.

Michael said: “I now really struggle with fatigue, I can only do about 20 minutes of walking and my speech is now a little bit muffled.

“You know when you bend down to pick something up and your head goes funny? I had days where my head felt like that all the time.”

After going through the intense operation, Michael underwent 30 sessions of radiotherapy at Colchester General Hospital and is now clear of cancer.

He started attending support groups provided by Headway earlier this year when a friend introduced him to them.

He said: “All people with brain injuries can attend the groups. You can meet with people that have the same disadvantages as you.”

This is the second event Michael has organised.

He previously raised more than £1,000 at a charity golf event earlier in the year.

“I’m looking forward to the event, but it’ll be relieved when it’s all over,” he added.

“I think I’ve already sold 50 tickets and I’m hoping to raise £1,000 for each of the three charities – Brain Tumour Research, Cleft Lip and Palate Association and Headway.

“I feel like I’m doing something, and it also stops me from being lazy and not doing anything. It gives my brain something to do.”

Tickets for the event are priced £10 and can be bought by calling 01255 682455.

They can also be bought directly from Frinton Golf Club.