BBC Breakfast aired a heart-wrenching update on the morning show just days after Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn tearfully appealed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The athlete was diagnosed with brain cancer at just 22 and is now advocating for increased resources to help treatment for the disease.
Emotional Appeal Live on Air
In an emotional appeal broadcast live on the programme he implored: "Andy Burnham, if you believe and you want to make a change and 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."
BBC Breakfast spoke to Julie Parton near Cannock, who tragically lost her son Ben to a brain tumour when he was only 12 years old, as she was completely moved by Archie's message.
A Mother's Story
Reporter Joanna Writtle explained: "She lost her son Ben when he was 12, eight months after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare brain tumour."
The distraught mother said: "It gave me goosebumps, because it brought everything to the forefront of what we've been through with Ben. I just thought how amazing he was," reports the Express.
Tragic Family Loss
Heartbreakingly, Ben's twin brother Jack was diagnosed with leukaemia just two weeks after his brother was laid to rest. Now 18, Jack has been raising thousands for charity alongside his mum to fund cancer research.
Julie shared: "My son Ben knew that he wasn't going to make it, and he didn't want people to forget him." "So my way of remembering him is by doing all these interviews and bringing awareness so he wasn't just my son - he was here for a purpose."
She also gifted his brain tumour for research to enhance treatment for glioblastoma.
