A HAMPSHIRE man with an incurable cancer has thrown his weight behind a national fundraising campaign.

Brian Orange, 67, founder of Winchester-based Orange Chemicals, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma bone marrow five years ago and wants to raise awareness of the illness.

He is having on-going treatment for the disease, but recently organised a fundraiser for Myeloma UK - a pub curry and quiz at the Crown Inn which drummed up more than £1,200 for the charity.

The quiz night was a case of Orange by name, orange by nature, as it was all part of Myeloma UK’s awareness week, which ran from June 21.

Mr Orange said: “Because it was Myeloma’s Go Orange awareness week, I dressed up in these ghastly orange trousers for the curry and quiz night. More than 100 people attended.

“I just wanted to give something back to the charity which is looking at new treatments and is involved in trying to find a cure for myeloma bone marrow cancer.”

Landylady at the Crown, Jude Evans, said: “It was a tremendous night. We were delighted when Brian asked us if he could do his fundraiser here. He is such a lovely man and does lots for the village including ringing the bells at the church.”

About 3,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with myeloma bone cancer each year and Myeloma UK is the only charity specifically dedicated to the illness.

“I was diagnosed when I was 61 and at the time I was the youngest patient with multiple myeloma at the RHCH in Winchester. It tends to attack older people.

“There is no cure - you keep having treatment when needed,” Mr Orange said.