A SOUTHAMPTON business man has thanked the city after thousands of pounds have been raised for a cancer charity.

Matt Conrad, owner and director of The Orange Rooms and partner in Oktoberfest Southampton, found out he had a brain tumour earlier this year.

A few weeks ago, a team of surgeons carried out awake, open brain surgery to remove the “avocado-sized” tumour.

Matt returned home and started taking medication for seizures, and eventually had the staples in his head taken out.

But a few weeks after surgery, the 41-year-old met with his oncologist who told him that he has an aggressive grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme (GMB) - a type of brain cancer.

Matt said: “I’m always going to have it, and it’s now part of my life.

“There’s the risk that tumours will come back as well as loads of other things so I may have to go through the same process again that has just happened, but I’ve done it once and comfortable with doing it again.”

This month he started intensive radiotherapy for five days a week for six weeks.

Matt is also taking chemotherapy tablets and following this he will have six months of chemotherapy treatment.

As part of Oktoberfest, Matt and the team decided to raise money for the Wessex Cancer Trust.

The team aimed to raise £10,000 for the charity and so far have raised £7,386.

Matt said: "We’ve been totally overwhelmed by the support to date and so far have raised £7,386.25 towards our £10,000 goal.

"The generous patrons at Oktoberfest Southampton contributed a massive £2925.00 over the three sessions. We can’t thank them enough.

"The fundraising will continue after I’ve settled into my treatments.

"I was lucky enough to visit the Wessex Cancer Trust a few weeks back to see first hand the incredible work they carry out every single day and will continue to do whatever we can to get to the £10,000 target.

"Thank you to everyone for their incredible generosity.”

Next month, Matt will be taking part in the “Matt Conrad Follically-Challenged Charity Challenge” to support the cause, as well as some other fundraisers in the new year.