'Miracle dad' Ben fights back to get in saddle for epic charity cycle - The Malvern Observer

'Miracle dad' Ben fights back to get in saddle for epic charity cycle

Malvern Editorial 18th Aug, 2016 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

A BRAVE and miracle Malvern dad is gearing up to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End after recovering from severe seizures which left him unable to speak, walk or eat, writes Aaron Wise.

Ben Lindon, of Malvern Road, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008 and has been through 90 cycles of chemotherapy to date, but will be taking on the gruelling 1,000 mile challenge on Sunday, September 25 to support Brain Tumour Research and Evesham Community Hospital.

After suffering increasingly severe seizures in September last year, Mr Lindon had to go through an excruciating year-long rehab battle, but with the help of a personal trainer and through sheer determination, he has fought back to full fitness.

Mr Lindon, who has already completed the Three Peaks Challenge in 2013 and the London Marathon in 2014, is planning to cycle 100 miles per day over 10 days and will be joined by close friend, Dr David Williams, who was his GP when he was first diagnosed with a brain tumour.




“The first warning sign that my condition had deteriorated again was in February last year, when I had a fairly bad seizure,” Mr Lindon said.

“Then in September, everything got a whole lot worse. I was admitted to the High Dependency Unit ward at Worcestershire Royal Hospital where I had a seizure which lasted 35 minutes. My brain was starved of oxygen and I remained in hospital for 10 weeks.


“My situation was similar to someone having suffered a bad stroke, so I was transferred to Evesham Community Hospital to begin a gruelling programme of physiotherapy to get me back into shape,” he added.

After being discharged, Mr Lindon gained weight and lost muscle so he joined Malvern Splash and signed up with a personal trainer to work on building up his strength.

“Now I’m keen to continue to my pledge made back in 2013 to raise funds for pioneering national charity, Brain Tumour Research, by doing something every year. I’ve run marathons and climbed mountains for this charity and I will continue to do so as long as I’m able to,” he added.

“My inspiration through all this is knowing how lucky I am. I was told I couldn’t have children after aggressive radiotherapy and would have to continue chemotherapy for the rest of my life.

“I’ve been blessed as I now have a beautiful daughter, Martha Rose, who is nearly four and a mischievous two-year-old son, Sidney George.

“I’d like to show them ordinary people like me can overcome anything if they fight. If you can leave a legacy, this is mine. I think it’s worth 1,000 miles of bad weather and a very sore bum,” he added.

Mr Lindon is also taking on the epic challenge to encourage more money to be spent on treatments for the disease – just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours, which kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

Carol Robertson, head of community fund-raising for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Ben is definitely one of our most dedicated supporters. Last year, even though he was barely able to walk or speak, he was determined to attend the launch of our Research Centre of Excellence at Imperial College London.

“He posed next to the ‘Wall of Hope’ and was an inspiration to everybody at Brain Tumour Research, as well as all the patients, families, carers and scientists at the event.

“It’s amazing to see how far Ben has come in a year, through his astonishing fighting spirit and total commitment. We urge people to support him in his epic challenge.”

Visit Mr Lindon’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ben-Lindon4 to donate or for more information.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Malvern Observer.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Malvern Observer newspaper.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Malvern Observer.

Business Directory

From plumbers, to restaurants, we can provide you with all the info you need.