Tears rolled down Archie Goodburn's face as he implored Prime Minister Andy Burnham to invest more money and resources into brain cancer research.
asserted
he → roll → research
The Scottish swimmer was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours just over two years ago and has since passionately advocated for an increased focus on the disease.
asserted
swimmer → diagnose → disease
"One of my dreams is that we see a future where brain cancer isn't the biggest killer of patients under 40," Goodburn said during the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
asserted
Goodburn → see → Glasgow
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the 25-year-old made a direct appeal to Downing Street to help ease the "unbearable" suffering of brain cancer patients and their families.
asserted
old → speak → patients
"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," Goodburn said.
asserted
Goodburn → believe → 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.
"
asserted
patients → establish → that
There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives.
uncertain
that → be → lives
We are not seeing them in the UK and it is unfair and unjust.
asserted
it → see → UK
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.
"
asserted
that → beg → country
This has to change.
asserted
This → have → ?
It's been going for too long and the suffering is unbearable."
asserted
suffering → go → ?
The Rare Cancers Bill - led by Scott Arthur MP - became law earlier this year.
asserted
Bill → lead → Arthur
It aims to incentivise research and investment into the treatment of rare types of cancer, but Goodburn says it does not go far enough.
asserted
it → aim → cancer
"It's a step in the right direction but it's not going to make the changes that we need," he said.
asserted
he → go → that
"I'm extremely grateful for Dr Scott Arthur and the work he's done there.
asserted
he → do → Arthur
"The rare cancers bill covers 14 different types of rare cancers.
asserted
bill → cover → 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.
asserted
it → cause → deaths
This frustrates me immensely.
asserted
This → frustrate → me
The rare cancers bill establishes two new positions: a clinical lead and a research lead.
asserted
bill → establish → positions
These two roles are part-time across 14 different types of cancers and they accumulate to 36 days a year.
asserted
they → accumulate → days
"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."
asserted
days → see → cancer
'There's only really one way to go and that's to go and fight'
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow were a huge driving force for Goodburn, amid the emotional turmoil of the past two years, and he completed his goal of reaching the 50m breaststroke final.
asserted
he → be → breaststroke
He missed out on the medal he craved, but even after that disappointment he was able to eloquently and passionately advocate for increased brain cancer research.
asserted
he → miss → research
Few athletes - if any - at the Games got a bigger ovation than Goodburn and he says it was a privilege to compete in front of a home crowd.
asserted
it → get → crowd
"It was an honour to compete in front of such a fantastic and supportive home crowd," he said, reflecting on the Games and his post-race interviews.
"To see the support off the back of those interviews has been really, really touching and inspiring.
asserted
see → compete → interviews
"In that moment I was speaking about what felt important to me and the crowd were very supportive of my journey, and it only felt right to address that when I got out the pool.
asserted
I → speak → pool
"What I do in the pool is only possible because of the medical advances that have been made and the campaign that's been done by the whole community.
asserted
that → make → community
It was really a chance to give back and make sure that momentum keeps going.
asserted
keeps → give → ?
And he insists he will continue to fight the disease and try to make a difference for other patients.
asserted
he → insist → patients
"I partly feel like why we hear so much about brain cancer and why the awareness is so poor is because patients unfortunately die so quickly," he said.
asserted
he → feel → cancer
"I have this prognosis which is slightly longer and it's given me this time to advocate - it's two years since I was diagnosed.
"
asserted
I → have → time
I think when you're really backed up against a wall like that there's only really one way to go and that's to go and fight."
asserted
that → think → that
Tears rolled down Archie Goodburn's face as he implored Prime Minister Andy Burnham to invest more money and resources into brain cancer research.
asserted
he → roll → research
The Scottish swimmer was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours just over two years ago and has since passionately advocated for an increased focus on the disease.
asserted
swimmer → diagnose → disease
"One of my dreams is that we see a future where brain cancer isn't the biggest killer of patients under 40," Goodburn said during the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
asserted
Goodburn → see → Glasgow
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the 25-year-old made a direct appeal to Downing Street to help ease the "unbearable" suffering of brain cancer patients and their families.
asserted
old → speak → patients
"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," Goodburn said.
asserted
Goodburn → believe → 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.
"
asserted
patients → establish → that
There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives.
uncertain
that → be → lives
We are not seeing them in the UK and it is unfair and unjust.
asserted
it → see → UK
…and 24 more, not listed.
The Aporia
