THE family and friends of a former pub landlord with an inoperable brain tumour have teamed up to raise funds for research into the condition.

Ian Walsh, 53, who lives with his partner Glenda Carter and her daughter Toni, in Commercial Street, Rishton, was diagnosed with an inoperable and incurable tumour in January.

Since then he has undergone six weeks of radiotherapy and is due to start chemotherapy on May 11.

Glenda, 48, said: “He got poorly at Christmas - we thought he had caught a bug off me but it went on for three to four weeks and he was being really sick.

“We had to wait 15 days for test results and then we were told he had a tumour impossible to operate on because of its position on the brain.

“We were devastated when we found out - I felt like I was in a dream, but we are slowly coming to terms with it.

“We haven’t asked how much time Ian has left, we don’t want to know - we’re just taking it one day at a time.

“The tumour has shrunk slightly with the radiotherapy and it should work for another three months so we’ll see what happens.”

Glenda added that the former Liverpool firefighter of 30 years now suffers short-term memory loss.

She said: “He can remember right back to when he was a little boy but not what’s happened recently.”

The couple, formerly landlord and landlady of The Roebuck Inn, first met nine years ago singing karaoke at Rishton Legion Club.

Glenda said: “We knew each other for months and then the night I sang Gabrielle’s ‘When A Woman Wants Her Man’, we just got together.”

They are also due to get married soon - although they are keeping the date to themselves for now.

So far, fundraisers have raised £600 via a ‘Wear A Hat’ day and Dave Lees will help raise money at his beer festival at Rishton Conservative Club from June 19 to 21.

As part of the festival neighbour Paul Bradley and friend Tommy Burrows will do a sponsored 70-mile bike ride - sponsorship forms are in the club or from Paul on 07872 628487.

There will also be a tombola, raffle and entertainment at the Conservative Club on June 20.

To donate prizes contact Glenda on 07593 779594.

Donate at justgiving.com/team-ian-walsh/ and see the charity page at braintumourresearch.org.