A MAN battling cancer for the fourth time has helped to raise almost £2,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation - by staging his own wake.

Mike Foreman, from Holmside, near Burnhope, County Durham, has been greatly moved by the overwhelming support from family, friends and medical staff since he was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2007.

Determined to thank them, the 74-year-old decided to hold his wake early to ensure he did not miss the party.

Relatives from across the country attended, along with members of his medical team and everyone from his car mechanic to his funeral director.

The North-East Theatre Organisation in Howden-le-Wear, hosted and helped organise the celebration, which also marked Mr Foreman’s 46th wedding anniversary with his wife, Kim, earlier this month.

“You never get the chance to say thank you for things like this until it is too late,” said Mr Foreman. “It often falls upon the partner who is left behind and they already have a lot on their plate. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve had my wake now and I’ve been able to say thank you to the people Kim and I care about.

“I must say that I don’t plan on going anywhere at the moment. I have an amazing medical team around me.”

Mr Foreman, who runs a bed and breakfast with his wife, was initially diagnosed with bowel cancer, which later spread to his lungs and stomach.

He managed to fight off the disease three times but the cancer recently returned to his stomach and he is undergoing his fourth course of chemotherapy.

During his illness, Mr Foreman discovered a new passion for playing the theatre organ.

He is now a member of the New Vic Allstars and can often be found playing the Mighty Wurlitzer at the North East Theatre Organ Association’s headquarters, the New Victoria Centre in Howden-le-Wear.

He even gave a performance during his live wake, wearing a t-shirt with a slogan stating: ‘Please don’t talk about me when I’m gone.’

Mr Foreman said: “It’s given me a new lease of life. I can’t thank the association enough –they really are a wonderful group of people.”

The event raised almost £2,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, a charity that funds research into new approaches to detecting and treating cancer.

Mr Foreman was friends with the football legend, who died of lung cancer in 2009.