A CANCER sufferer who says hospital staff saved his life aims to raise thousands of pounds for the unit where he was treated.

Over two and a half years, Norman Harris, 60, who has mouth cancer, has had his jaw painstakingly reconstructed.

The first time a steel jaw was used, which failed, and the second time doctors at Blackburn Roayl Infirm ary used bone from his leg.

He believes Infirmary staff have worked miracles and as a thank you he has already raised £5,000.

But he plans to continue raising thousands more through events such as football matches and karaoke nights.

Doctors at the maxillofacial unit rebuilt his jaw after a steel jaw fitted last year had to be replaced when screws came loose, leaving him in searing pain.

The hardy publican, who runs the Swan and Railway pub in Spring Lane, Radcliffe, has not let months of painful operations get him down and took only a few weeks away from the bar.

After having his new jaw fitted in March, Norman was back pulling pints from a wheelchair within days.

He said: "My nurses are magic, they are all magic people at the Infirmary. They saved my life and I wanted to do something to say thank you.

"Everyone who has mouth cancer goes through a lot, but I have probably been through more than most. When the steel jaw fell out I had to sit there drinking liquid morphine, I was in so much pain.

"But the doctors and nurses have worked miracles. The money I am raising will help everyone.

"I don't have an amount I want to raise I just want to go on and on. I haven't let any of it get me down, anyone at my pub will agree with that."

He is now waiting to go back for dental implants in the next few months, and expects to be visiting staff at the maxillofacial unit on ward 18 for months to come.

"They're not just staff there any more, they are my friends," he said. "I don't make appointments, I just go in now because I know them all so well."

His next fundraiser will see Infirmary staff in Blackburn Rovers shirts, donated by the club, take on regulars from the pub in Bur FC shirts, also donated, on Saturday, October 13 at the pub with a 3pm kick-off.

There will also be a rounders match at 3pm the following Saturday on October 20 and a karaoke evening and raffle from 8pm on Saturday, November 3.

A spokesman for ward 18 at the infirmary confirmed it had received £5,000 from Norman and added: "We'll all be there for the football match."

To pledge support ring the pub on 0161 7232726.