WINSFORD’S Barry Rowlands thanked the ‘absolutely brilliant’ local response after getting his hat on to raise money and awareness for Brain Tumour Research.

The 53-year-old Rookery Rise resident was diagnosed with brain tumours last year, after already braving three months of chemotherapy for lung cancer.

He, his wife Heather and daughter Nicola donned their best headware as part of the charity’s Wear a Hat Day and collected donations at the Winsford branch of Morrisons on Friday, March 28.

Staff from the supermarket, where Barry’s son Martyn works as produce manager, also held a sponsored cycle ride along the Whitegate Way – pushing total funds raised to £1,500.

Barry said: “It’s an absolutely brilliant amount. You have an idea beforehand about how it might go and this surpassed it. We were there until 9pm collecting, and people were still giving us money.

“Research into brain tumours receives less than 1 per cent of national cancer research spending in the UK yet this devastating disease, with which over 16,000 people are diagnosed each year, kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

“That said, my wife, family and I make the most of life and try to live it to the full. “I married my partner, Heather, in December and together we keep a positive outlook on the future and don’t dwell on the dark places.

“We go walking with the dog, go camping as often as we can and live at home with my youngest daughter. The only solid plan for the future is I am not going anywhere because of this illness.”

There’s still time to donate for Barry’s Wear a Hat Day fundraiser by visiting justgiving.com/Baz-Rowlands.

For more information about Brain Tumour Research visit braintumourresearch.org For information about Wear a Hat Day, or to register for next year go to wearahatday.org