A BRAVE dad who was given the devastating news he had a brain tumour is on a mission to raise money and awareness into the illness.

Chris Hope, is planning a mammoth trek with the help of friends and family and is hoping to complete it before he undergoes surgery to remove the tumour.

The 39-year-old had been losing the hearing in his left ear over the last five years but put it down to ageing before he was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a rare form of benign brain tumour.

“I just thought I was getting on a bit but then I started getting headaches and developed tinnitus in that ear,” said Mr Hope, dad to five-year-old Alex and two-year-old Eleanor. “I went for an MRI and got the results a few weeks ago.

“It has got quite big so they are going to operate to remove it. I will lose my hearing on that side and it will affect my balance so I will have issues about getting back on my feet in the first few weeks.

“I could be left with damaged nerves in my face and other very unpleasant side effects.”

But Mr Hope is determined to make the time before his surgery in May count and is planning on trekking 17 miles up 10 peaks in 10 hours with 15 friends in the Lake District on April 25 to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

“The diagnosis came as a shock but instead of sitting around and feeling sorry for myself I am trying to do something positive,” said Chris, a systems analyst who lives in Lowton.

“I wanted to try and raise awareness and money before the surgery.

“I could have let this drag me under but I have made the decision to face up to it and carry on.

“My children are my motivation for getting through this.”

Mr Hope is hoping people will help by donating and he is also looking for companies in Leigh to sponsor them and help cover the costs of the hike.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/ChrisHope101/ or email chrishope101@gmail.com if you wish to sponsor the group.