TWO years ago, Michael Gates was woken up from his sleep by headaches and sickness.

Doctors and medical professionals sent him for blood tests and he was treated for an ear infection.

However, further tests revealed a far more serious diagnosis.

Michael has a malignant brain tumour.

In February 2015, a CT scan located the tumour which was a grade four neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer which is most commonly found in children.

“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,” said Michael.

“I’d never really been ill before this, apart from the flu, and I’d never been to the doctor since I was about eight-years-old.”

Michael, 34, who now lives with his parents in Walton, underwent two separate operations to try to rid him of the cancer.

He had VP shunt surgery which drained the fluid and relieved pressure from around his brain.

Once he recovered, he had the whole tumour removed at the Queens Hospital in Romford.

After his surgery he was placed in intensive care for a further six days as he developed a chest infection.

Michael left Queens Hospital in March 2015 and returned home but then had to go through a further 30 gruelling radiotherapy sessions at Colchester General Hospital every day for six weeks to kill any remaining cancer cells.

He said: “It wasn’t the best of times, it’s life changing before and after, everything you go through it reminds me of what I could have had.

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

Michael also struggles with his eyesight.

Before his diagnosis he worked at the Frinton Golf Club helping to organise events and was previously the bar manager.

He now takes around six types of tablets and medicated gels each day but is optimistic about the future.

On Saturday Michael will be holding the Gatesy’s Charity Night at Frinton Golf Club with an appearance from the band Special Measures.

The event is being held in a bid to raise money for three charities, Brain Tumour Research, Cleft Lip and Palate Association and Headway, a brain injury charity which has helped Michael.

It provides support for people living with a brain injury. “I go to the support groups and all people with brain injuries can attend the groups, you can meet with people that have the same thing as you,” he said.

“It also keeps me busy.

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

“I think I’ve already sold 50 tickets and im hoping to raise £1,000 for each of of the three charities.

“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.”

For more information on the event and for tickets call 01255 682455.