A FATHER-of-two has come up with a sound idea to raise awareness about testicular cancer, after admitting he was too embarrassed to see a doctor.

Neil Livesey, 45, was diagnosed with the disease in 2010 and, after coming through a successful treatment programme, is planning to stage his own mini music festival to raise cash for Cancer Research UK.

The event, which he has dubbed ‘Testifest’, will take place in Tosside next month, with more than a dozen acts sets to feature.

Neil, of Alice Street in Oswaldtwistle, came up with the idea after completing gruelling treatment for cancer.

He said: “I realise I’m here because of life-saving treatment. I’ve got so much to be thankful for, particularly when I think about one guy who was being treated with the same cancer as me. He didn’t make it.”

Neil’s ordeal began after he found a lump in one of his testicles.

He said: “I knew pretty much straight away what it was but I had a building business at the time and things were very stressful. I suppose I put it to the back of my mind.”

When the lump started to grow and Neil started to suffer from back pain, wife Julie urged him to see their GP.

After being referred to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, Neil was told he had testicular cancer, while a secondary tumour had also spread to his back.

He said: “I wished I’d gone to my GP sooner. Perhaps if I had, the cancer wouldn’t have spread. Like many men I felt a bit embarrassed about having testicular cancer, that’s why I didn’t go to the doctors straight away.”

Neil, who has two sons, Jack, 21, and William, 18, had an operation to remove his testicle and then embarked on a three-month course of intense chemotherapy, which finished in July 2010.

He still has regular check-ups and scans, but said he ‘feels great’ and is back working full-time as an excavator driver.

Testifest will be at Tosside Community Hall on August 9 and 10, including tribute band Kazabian, Against The Order and New York Tourists.

Neil is looking for sponsors for the event. If you can help out contact him by e-mail neil.livesey@hotmail.co.uk