My Story

For this year’s RideLondon event, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to raise money for The National Brain Appeal, a really important charity that works to finance research into the treatment of brain tumours and supports the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN). The NHNN, based in London, is one of the best places in the world for brain surgery, and has been incredibly important to me ever since I found out I had an incurable brain tumour.

This part of my story began in 2019 when I was diagnosed with a grade two tumour in the upper right part of my brain. This type of tumour is technically known as an astrocytoma. I had four surgeries during and after the Covid period to try and remove as much of it as possible, including a pretty intense 13.5 hour awake craniotomy at the NHNN led by the amazing neurosurgeons Andrew McEvoy and Anna Miserocchi, and an operation to remove an infected part of my skull – which is why my pictures from the time show me wearing a baseball cap!

It is very difficult to put into words how much I appreciate the way that I was cared for at the NHNN, and especially the seriousness and professionalism of the neurosurgeons who literally held my life in their hands while I was being operated on. It is very unlikely researchers will be able to find a cure for my condition in time to keep me alive, but I chose the National Brain Appeal as I wanted to pick a charity that could direct funding toward this area. This was in appreciation of what they’ve done for me already, and to help support other people who are diagnosed with similar conditions in the future and also end up at the NHNN. 

I also wanted to use this opportunity to raise money in memory of my friend Liam Bergin, who I met online after he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2020. Before his death in June 2023, he was an inspiration to everyone in how he dealt with his diagnosis, which was pretty much the worst news anyone could receive. You can read more about his story here: https://braintumourresearch.org/blogs/in-our-hearts/liam-bergin

A few facts:

•    Brain tumours kill more people under 40 than any other cancer
•    They kill more people than leukaemia

Despite lack of awareness, they're incredibly common and if you ask around you'll find there are huge numbers of us living with the disease.

Despite this, though, the UK spends less than 3% of its annual research budget on brain cancer, and there has been very little progress in treating it for decades. Long term survival rates remain very poor. For example:

•    The average survival time for an astrocytoma is 6 to 8 years
•    For someone who ends up with a grade IV glioblastoma, the most serious form of brain cancer and the most advanced form of astrocytoma, the average survival time is 12-18 months. Only one in twenty people make it for more than five years. 

Please do donate if you possibly can, as these people will make fantastic use of our money. Anyone one of us could be affected by it, and see our lives ripped up entirely. And if you can’t donate, then do keep watching this space. I’ll try and post some updates when I’m getting going with my project to shift the belly fat before I head off on my Essex tour (ably supported by my cat, of course!)

Thank you so much for reading!

Alex
3 November 2023