A former cancer sufferer who had to re-learn how to read and write after major brain surgery hopes to launch a new business and pass on his skills to others.

Rais Hasan, 55, of Shipley, wants to become a professional photographer after making a remarkable recovery after having part of his brain removed during surgery on a tumour in 2004.

He turned to photography during his rehabilitation and realised he had a talent for it and is now looking to turn professional with guidance from Bradford Council’s business enterprise scheme Kickstart, which provides support to young businesses and people who are thinking of working for themselves across the Bradford district.

Rais, a former Youth Service worker and Prince’s Trust volunteer project manager, is also setting up over-50s photography classes to ‘give something back’ after benefiting from his work with a camera.

Rais said: “To get to this point compared to how I was after the operations makes me so proud. The photography has helped a great deal – rather than looking back and saying ‘I used to be able to do this or that’, I have learned a brilliant new skill and stayed positive.”

Councillor David Green, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, said: “Bradford Council is committed to ensuring that the successful Kickstart scheme is open to everyone with the ideas and determination to pursue their ambition of running their own business. I hope that Rais’s experience will encourage others with medical conditions or disabilities to consider starting their own company.”

Lucy Veall, a Kickstart disability adviser based at Bradford Chamber of Commerce, added: “Turning professional is an exciting move and we’re looking forward to continuing our support as Rais develops his business.”

A gift of a digital camera on his 50th birthday was the trigger for a new passion, with Rais embarking on a two-year photography course once he was well enough.

“Completing the course and becoming fully-qualified in photography was a massive confidence boost,” said Rais, whose photography classes are supported by the UnLtd charity.

“In the past couple of years, people have started to say I have got a good eye for photography, and so my next aim is to set up my own business and run classes. Photography has helped me so much, I want to help other people enjoy it too.”

To find out more about Kickstart, call 0800 9539503. Anyone interested in attending Rais’s classes can e-mail raishasan@hotmail.co.uk.