A MUSIC festival will be held at Tosside next weekend to raise awareness and funds for testicular cancer.

Now in its second year, Testifest is being organised by father-of-two Neil Livesey, who had a brush with cancer four years ago.

Neil, 46, decided to raise awareness about testicular cancer after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2010.

He had delayed going to the doctor and by the time he sought treatment the cancer had 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.”

However, after coming through a successful treatment programme, he decided to organise his own mini-music festival last year to raise awareness of the disease and to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

And he has decided to repeat the event this year, with more than a dozen acts sets to feature.

Testifest will be held at Tosside Community Hall next Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26 and headline acts include tribute band Green Date and cover band Against The Order.

Also taking to the stage will be The Boutiques, The Shade, The Jam Collection, Kelly Heroes and many others.

Camping is available at nearby Hartley’s Farm.

Tickets cost £25 for both days (or £40 with camping) or £15 for day ticket.

For more information, visit testifest.co.uk or contact Neil Livesey on 07890 700679 or email testifest@live.com