BBC Breakfast viewers were left heartbroken after Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn made an emotional plea to Prime Minister Andy Burnham for more action on brain cancer.
A Teary Appeal on National Television
The 25-year-old athlete, who was diagnosed with three oligodendrogliomas — a form of cancer affecting the brain and spinal cord — in 2024, fought back tears as he addressed the newly-appointed PM directly on the programme.
Goodburn, who made his Commonwealth Games debut in the men's 50-metre breaststroke and won gold at the 2023 British Swimming Championships, urged Downing Street to establish a national brain cancer lead and improve access to clinical trials.
'I'm on My Knees Begging'
He said: "Andy Burnham, if you believe and want to make a change and a difference to the future of our country and our young population, 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 are unbelievable and so unjust."
He added: "There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives. 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. This has to change. It's been going for too long and the suffering is unbearable."
A Step in the Right Direction
Goodburn acknowledged the Rare Cancers Bill, led by Scott Arthur MP, which became law earlier this year to incentivise research into rare cancers. However, he stressed it falls short: "It's a step in the right direction but it's not going to make the changes that we need. I'm extremely grateful for Dr Scott Arthur and the work he's done there. The rare cancers bill covers 14 different types of rare cancers. Brain cancer is one of these in terms of incidents of diagnosis, but it's not the same in terms of the number of deaths it causes."
Viewers React with Heartbreak
Viewers took to social media to express their sorrow. Alan Carr wrote: "Completely heartbreaking," while another added: "That made me cry watching Archie. I hope he gets somewhere with all of this. About time more research is done into brain tumours and cancer in general."
Another viewer commented: "Such a heart felt plea in tears watching , My heart goes out to him and his family as a mother of someone who has gone through 2 brain tumour surgeries this country needs to act now."
