10/07/2017
Our supporter, Ben Lindon, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour nine years ago, aged 29. He is gearing up to do a kayak 100-miles along the River Wye to fundraise for us, this is coinciding with his 100th cycle of chemotherapy.
It is believed to be the highest number of cycles of chemo undergone by any brain tumour patient in the UK, and certainly by anyone under retirement age. Ben, will be setting out on 12th August to paddle from Glasbury-on-Wye in Powys, Wales, to the sea at Chepstow in Monmouthshire.
Ben said: “I’m lucky to have survived beyond the five years – less than 20% of us do – and I will continue to take on a personal challenge each year until I am broken.
“I was told I couldn’t have children after aggressive radiotherapy and what will be a lifetime of chemotherapy. Extraordinarily, I have been blessed with a beautiful daughter Martha, now 4, and a very mischievous son Sidney, 3. I’d like to show them that ordinary people like me with a life-limiting illness, can overcome anything and see beautiful places if you fight.
“I am dedicating my “Wye 100, Wye Not?!” as I am calling it, to Ryan Taylor, a young man from Nottingham, who I became friends with on social media. His sister, Melanie Wilkinson, is a big supporter of Brain Tumour Research. Ryan died earlier this year aged 26 from a brain tumour. He never got the chance to start a family of his own.”
If you would like to sponsor Ben, visit his JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ben-Lindon6
