Malvern brain tumour patient to kayak 100 miles coinciding with 100th cycle of chemotherapy - The Malvern Observer

Malvern brain tumour patient to kayak 100 miles coinciding with 100th cycle of chemotherapy

Malvern Editorial 4th Jul, 2017   0

A MALVERN man who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour nine years ago is gearing up to kayak 100 miles along the River Wye to fund-raise for charity to coincide with his 100th cycle of chemotherapy.

Believed to be the highest number of cycles of chemotherapy undergone by any brain tumour patient in the UK, Ben Lindon will be setting out on August 12 to paddle from Glasbury-on-Wye in Wales to the sea at Chepstow in Monmouthshire.

This challenge comes after several others which the 39-year-old has set himself over the years in order to raise desperately needed funds for the Brain Tumour Research charity.

The father-of-two’s first big challenge after diagnosis saw him complete the Brighton Marathon.




Among other incredible feats, he has also conquered the Three Peaks (the highest three mountains of England, Scotland and Wales in 24 hours) and last year he cycled 1,000 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

To date Ben has raised nearly £10,000 for Brain Tumour Research.


“I’m lucky to have survived beyond the five years – less than 20 per cent of us do – and I will continue to take on a personal challenge each year until I am broken,” he said.

“I’m completing these challenges for two reasons: brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

“It is a disease that takes children from parents and parents from children.

“This is unacceptable and we need to change this.”

Ben added he was told he could not have children after aggressive radiotherapy.

However, he was blessed with a daughter and son in Martha (four) and Sidney (three).

“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,” Ben said.

“If I can leave a legacy, this is mine and I think it’s worth 100 miles of kayaking and potentially trench foot of the bum.

“Two years on, after two weeks of massive seizures which induced a stroke and being told by my physio to ‘stop doing thee things’, I am still here and hell-bent on taking on and completing challenges for this cause, so close to my heart.”

Ben’s ‘Wye 100, Wye Not?!’ challenge is being dedicated to Ryan Taylor from Nottingham who he befriended on social media.

Ryan died earlier this year from a brain tumour aged 26.

To sponsor Ben visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ben-Lindon6.

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