Less than two years after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour followed by intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Adam Bradford has completed a gruelling charity cycle challenge in the blistering heat of the Arizona desert.

Adam, aged 24, was accompanied on the epic challenge from America’s Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, by his father David, 50. Their trip has raised more than £6,150 for the pioneering charity Brain Tumour Research and the money will fund vital scientific research focused in improving treatments and, ultimately, finding a cure for brain tumours.

Tesco delivery driver Adam was diagnosed after experiencing several seizures at the home he shares in Dunston, Tyne and Wear, with fiancé Michelle and their daughter Ruby, aged seven. He underwent surgery in May 2016 which was followed by intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Father and son had signed up for the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas ride, before Adam was diagnosed and, poignantly, they had always planned to raise money for the charity. David lost his mother, Janet Young, to a brain tumour at the age of 57, 15 years ago.

Adam said: “To be diagnosed with a brain tumour was a massive shock but I found a way to stay positive and this has helped a lot. There is no doubt that a brain tumour diagnosis turns your world upside down. It is hard not just for the patient but for everyone around you. I am lucky that I have had such great support from my family particularly for my dad who lost his mum to a brain tumour when I was just nine.”

The pair took part in the five-day guided event with 42 other cyclists and the route took them along 300 miles in temperatures of up to 34 C through the Arizona desert, along part of Route 66 and into Las Vegas.

David, who lives in Whitley Bay, and is a purchasing manager for Greggs at its Newcastle headquarters, said: “It was extremely emotional that Adam was even on the plane with me heading out to this challenge booked long before his tumour was diagnosed. He surpassed the mileage he’s done all year in training and his inspiration and mind-set meant he was chosen to lead the peloton for the last few miles to the finish. To be there riding with him made me the proudest dad ever.”

Suzanne McKenna, Head of Community Fundraising for Brain Tumour Research in the north, said: “We are enormously grateful to Adam and David for their commitment to help raise awareness of the issues around brain tumours and their tremendous fundraising.

“Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer … yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.”

To make a donation to Brain Tumour Research via Adam and David’s JustGiving page to go www.justgiving.com/david-bradford17

For further information, please contact:
Susan Castle-Smith at Brain Tumour Research on 01908 867206 or 07887 241639 or susan@braintumourresearch.org

Notes to Editors

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK focused on funding sustainable research to find a cure for brain tumours. We are building a game-changing network of world-class Research Centres of Excellence in the UK. Embracing passionate member charities nationwide, £5.5 million was raised towards research and support during 2016.

We are campaigning to see the national spend on research into brain tumours increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast cancer and leukaemia. The charity is celebrating a year of high-profile campaigning on this issue following the unprecedented success of its petition in 2016. Following that, Brain Tumour Research is now taking a leading role in the Government’s Task and Finish Working Group convened to tackle the historic underfunding for research.

Key statistics on brain tumours:

• Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer
• They kill more children than leukaemia
• They kill more men under 45 than prostate cancer
• They kill more women under 35 than breast cancer
• Just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease
• In the UK 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour
• Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers
• Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone, at any age
• Incidences of, and deaths from, brain tumours are increasing.

Please quote Brain Tumour Research as the source when using this information. Additional facts and statistics are available from our website including our latest Report on National Research Funding. We can also provide case-studies and research expertise for media.