A musician who played acoustic guitar during surgery to remove a brain tumour has described it as a “fascinating” experience.

Colin Miller, from Herne Bay, played chords so he could keep mobility in his hand and fingers following the eight-hour procedure to extricate the golf ball-sized lump.

The 64-year-old was diagnosed with a life-limiting glioblastoma in October 2023 after the left side of his face went into spasm on his way home from a holiday in Cyprus.

Mr Miller said: “I was given a choice of being awake or asleep for the procedure.

“The doctor questioned how I use motor movements on my left side, and I told him I play the guitar.

“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.

“I couldn’t process playing any familiar songs but strummed chords. The whole experience was fascinating.”

Colin, who spent four decades working as an IT consultant, had chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now monitored with scans every three months after the operation at King’s College Hospital in London.

It is only recently that Colin has returned to play with the Herne Bay Baptist Church band, occasionally singing.

He added: “Speaking and singing are two different skills. My brain takes a while to process during conversations but when I’m singing, I can perform the lyrics well.”

To mark a year since his procedure, Mr Miller has started a fundraising challenge to support charity Brain Tumour Research.

He has pledged to walk 99 miles in November and so far has raised £682.

Mr Miller is currently more than halfway through his challenge having already walked 65 miles.

He added: “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 licence, but I can still move my body, and I feel blessed to be able to do so in support of the brain tumour community.

“I’ve been struck with emotion upon reading the stories shared among the group on Facebook.

“I truly believe that investing in research will lead us to finding kinder treatments and eventually a cure for this devastating disease.”

To donate, click here.

Brain tumours kill more men aged under 70 than prostate cancer, yet just 1% of the national spending on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Colin’s story is a reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age.

“We’re grateful to Colin for sharing his story including an insight into his diagnosis we often don’t see.

“Colin is generous in both sharing his story and giving his time to walking throughout the whole of November.

“We’d like to wish him well with his ongoing scans and for the rest of his challenge.”