Father with brain tumour and son prepare for 100-mile tandem ride to fund research into disease

A father with a terminal brain tumour will take on a-100 mile tandem bike ride with his son to raise money for research into the devastating disease.

Liam Bergin, 50, from Bollington, Cheshire, was in otherwise good health when, out of the blue, he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour in April 2020.

Liam, who is married to Jen, and dad to Joe,19, Catlin, 17, and Esme, 15, said: “I’d been out for a 90k bike ride. I’d not been back long and was in the kitchen chopping garlic for tea, when I must have fitted and passed out on the floor.

“Jen was out with the girls taking the dog for a walk. I woke up to the sound of banging on the door and Jen came in to find me lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

“The paramedics took me to Manchester Royal Infirmary. They said I must have been out for 15 to 20 minutes and they kept me in overnight for observations. The following morning, I said I was struggling to eat my toast. He checked my tongue and noticed it looked as if I had bitten it, which would suggest I’d had a seizure, possibly my first epileptic fit.” 

Liam had an MRI scan 12 weeks later at Salford Royal Hospital. It revealed ‘something’ on his brain and he had a second scan which confirmed he had a grade 3 or 4 GBM. He was given just two to four years to live.

At the start of July 2020, surgeons at Salford Royal Hospital removed 95% of the tumour. Liam took ill health retirement from his Head of Catering position at the University of Manchester.

Liam and his son, Joe, a student at the University of Manchester, will get on their tandem bike on 13 June for a 100-mile ride taking over four hours to Liam’s hometown, Stafford, Staffordshire, to raise money for the Brain Tumour Research charity.

Liam said: “It’s going to be great to do this with Joe before he heads off to Canada for the summer.

“My balance is not as good as it used to be, but the whole route is off-road, so we should be ok.

“I am determined to keep going for as long as I can. I want to be a force for good and I’m doing this for all of those who have died from brain tumours.

“I want to thrive, to chase the science and to expand knowledge and awareness as far as I can.”

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK singularly focused on finding a cure for brain tumours through campaigning for an increase in the national investment into research to £35 million per year. It is also fundraising to create a sustainable network of brain tumour research centres in the UK.

Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: “We’re really grateful to Liam and Joe as it’s only with the support of people like them that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients like Liam who are forced to fight this awful disease.

“Unlike many other cancers, brain tumours are indiscriminate. They can affect anyone at any time. Too little is known about the causes and that is why increased investment in research is vital.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.

To donate to Liam’s JustGiving page, visit:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/liam-bergin7