Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has invited British swimmer Archie Goodburn for a personal meeting after Goodburn appeared on BBC Breakfast and made an emotional plea for increased brain cancer research funding.
Goodburn, who is battling an incurable diagnosis of inoperable brain tumours, broke down on the program on Tuesday, urging the Prime Minister to invest more resources into cancer research and stating, "give us a chance to fight for our lives."
Responding to a video of Goodburn's appeal on TikTok, Burnham stated, "Archie, thank you for this. I know how hard it must have been. What you're doing for other people while you're going through all this yourself shows the best of us. I'd really like to meet you and hear from you directly and I've asked my team to get in touch."
Goodburn, 25, was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours at the age of 22. Despite his health challenges, he recently reached the 50m breaststroke final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He has been a vocal advocate for increased awareness and funding for the disease.
During his appearance on BBC Breakfast, Goodburn directly addressed the Prime Minister, pleading for the establishment of a national brain cancer lead. "Please listen to us. Please establish a national brain cancer lead and give us a chance to fight for our lives because the things that patients are going through out there is unbelievable and so unjust," he said.
He highlighted that clinical trials offering potential life-changing treatments are available internationally, including in the US, Australia, and China, but are not accessible in the UK. "We are not seeing them in the UK and it is unfair and unjust. Please invest and make the difference. I'm on my knees begging for not just my own life but for those of my best friends and those that are affected and the families around the country," Goodburn pleaded.
His appeal comes after the Rare Cancers Bill became law earlier this year, aiming to improve research and trials for rare cancer types. Goodburn acknowledged the bill as a step in the right direction but expressed that it does not go far enough to address the critical needs of brain cancer patients.
"It's a step in the right direction but it's not going to make the changes that we need," Goodburn stated, while expressing gratitude for the work of Dr. Scott Arthur. He elaborated that the Rare Cancers Bill covers 14 different types of rare cancers. While brain cancer is included in terms of diagnosis incidence, its mortality rate is disproportionately high.
"Yes it's rare, but it's extremely deadly. This frustrates me immensely," he said. Goodburn pointed out that the bill establishes two part-time positions—a clinical lead and a research lead—which collectively amount to 36 days per year to cover 14 different cancer types. "I do not see how 36 days a year is going to make that change for 14 different types of cancers, let alone the most deadly type of cancer," he added.
