Man who played guitar during surgery raises funds

A musician who played the guitar during an operation to remove a brain tumour is taking on a month-long challenge to raise funds for research.

Colin Miller, from Herne Bay in Kent, is walking 99 miles (160km) throughout November to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

The amateur musician played his acoustic guitar during an eight-hour operation to remove the tumour at King’s College Hospital in London in 2023.

Mr Miller said: "So not to lose mobility in my hand and fingers, they asked me to bring in my guitar and I was woken up part way through my surgery and played different tunes."

Mr Miller, who was an IT consultant, was diagnosed with a life-limiting glioblastoma in October 2023 after the left side of his face went into spasm on his way back from holiday in Cyprus.

The 64-year-old, who has walked 65 of his 99 miles, says: "I’ve always been keen on walking and for this challenge I have a spreadsheet of all my walks so far, and I’m averaging six miles each day.

"I had to give up my driving license, but I can still move my body, and I feel blessed to be able to do so in support of the brain tumour community."

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