STAFF from two hearing centres and an opticians in the south have joined forces to help a Hampshire soldier who is battling cancer.

Specsavers Hearing Centres in Southampton and Salisbury and Specsavers Opticians in Gosport have raised £3,000 for Sergeant Ian O’Keefe’s treatment for a brain tumour.

The 38-year-old from Lee-on-the-Solent has been denied treatment by the NHS for the potentially life-saving drug avastin because it has not yet been approved by health chiefs.

The father of three is currently looking to raise £15,000 for six months’ treatment and has so far taken part in a marathon walk to help raise the cash.

Richard Morgan, store director at Specsavers Southampton says: “The brain tumour was spotted by one of the opticians, Nora, in his local store in Gosport and we wanted him to get the best treatment possible.”