Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

So far since my diagnosis I’ve raised around 20k for Brain Tumour Research, but most importantly I’ve raised a lot of awareness for what is an aggressive cancer, but underfunded as it’s such a complicated disease.

So what have we done?

Wine tasting on line with reasons to be cheerful sponsored by Boutinot 

10000 steps a day for a month 

Cycled the coast to coast with my best mates, Joe, my son, and his mates 

Walked up Scarfell Pike with Tony and Chris  who also have terminal cancer. We are also known as 'Dead Men Walking.' 

So next it’s a cricket day at Toft whilst I've also decided to slip in an abseil off the Trafford Centre in between (why not is the way I look at it). 

Yes the good people, of Toft CC have granted me a day on September 5th. I’ve been involved with the club for about 15 years first with the juniors and more latterly with the Mighty Toft Taverners. However I also think I’ve spent a calendar year in the kitchen there!

So we will have at least two teams maybe 3. We will also have Manchester’s finest craft ale bar,  Reasons to be Cheerful, at the Tavs. 

There will be a very 'Tavs' raffle. I.e.: it will have prizes worth winning and if you do turn up and would like to leave a donation that would be fabulous, but really I want this to be a celebration of all the fantastic support I have had. 

I salute you all in anticipation 

So I’ve learnt a few things, in my case you can have just finished you’re ninth chemotherapy session and stay fit enough to take on some small challenges

Also what I have been touched by is people’s kindness which always reminds me of the late Jo Cox’s fabulous words

“We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us."

I also have new friends in the terminally ill world of  brain tumours.  some of these people like Mathew and Laura are disproportionately young, telling a 50 year old man with 3 children, you’re terminally ill and it’s a palliative care from now on. It’s tough, but hey I’ve done a lot. Telling people in their teens and parents of young children is heartbreaking. That’s why, whilst I can, I’ll keep raising awareness and funds for research.

And finally a reminder of why you are hopefully still reading this. To research and beat one of the most underfunded cancers out there. 

I'll hand over to Emily from Brain Tumour Research who put this story together- 

Dad-of-three ‘thriving’ with brain cancer backs  Liam Bergin, 50 was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive type of brain tumour. 

His diagnosis came after suffering a seizure at home, following a 90km bike ride.  Just over a week later, Liam, who recently moved to Bollington and is Head of Catering at the University of Manchester, underwent gruelling brain surgery at Salford Royal Hospital to ‘debulk’ the tumour. The surgery was followed by 30 radiotherapy sessions at The Christie in Manchester. 

 Liam, who has been given a prognosis of two to four years, said: “From the front desk to the radiotherapy team, every NHS worker I have come across through my treatment in Salford and at The Christie has been amazing. They judge your mood and are always pitch perfect. My diagnosis, although completely devastating, has also made me realise how lucky I am with my close-knit family and wonderful friendship groups.

“I know full well that the diffuse nature of GBM means that at least some of the tumour cells will be left behind and will continue to grow but I am determined to keep going for as long as I can.” 

 Married to Jen and with three teenagers, Liam’s diagnosis came as a a bit of an eye opener, ‘sadly my diagnosis came just a day after my Mum died.’

On the day of his brain tumour diagnosis, Liam reached out to Brain Tumour Research offering to share his story and participate in fundraising. He is now campaigning with the charity and is urging people to make a difference by signing a petition to increase the national investment into brain tumour research to £35 million a year, which would bring parity of funding with other cancers such as leukaemia, breast and prostate.

 Liam said: “there is a determination to keep going for Jen, the children and Dad. I want to be a force for good.  I’m focusing on being a campaigner and an activist; I want to thrive, to chase the science and to expand knowledge and awareness as far as I can.”

According to Brain Tumour Research:

• More children and adults under the age of 40 die of a brain tumour than any other cancer

• Five-year survival rate for breast and prostate is over 70%, leukaemia over 40%, yet for brain tumours it is just 12%

Liam is now on a course of temozolomide  (TMZ)chemotherapy and is about to return to work part-time in the University of Manchester catering team. He said: “Even though I am doing a good job of staying positive, there are definitely times when I reflect on how unfair this is and I occasionally feel sick with nerves. But in other ways, the fact that a brain tumour diagnosis is so random makes it easier to deal with. I have a history of depression, which has historically involved finding reasons for things to be my fault but with this, I can’t attribute the blame to anyone.’ 

“I am really not ready to die. It scares me not knowing if I’ll see my children grow up. We know as a family what it’s like to lose a loved one ahead of their time and the last thing I want is for them to go through it again. Besides, I had aspirations to become a grandad and wanted to be around to enjoy my grandchildren.”

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. The charity is calling for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.

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