Man with terminal cancer to ride for cycle record

A man with terminal brain cancer hopes to set a world record by cycling further than anyone undergoing chemotherapy ever has before.

Robert Seaward, 38, is taking the challenge to encourage fellow patients to "enjoy life".

The father-of-three is undergoing chemotherapy for a brain tumour called oligodendroglioma, diagnosed in January 2023.

Mr Seaward, of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, has chosen to "enjoy his life" and in doing so, hopes to set a Guinness World Record (GWR) and raise funds for charity.

He will cycle more than 1,500 miles (2,400 km) from Weymouth, Dorset, to London via Liverpool, Manchester, Blackpool and Manchester over three weeks.

The idea for the record attempt follows a recent incident when he began stammering, before being admitted to hospital.

He feared he was having a seizure, but was told by doctors that was not the case.

"Instead, I've walked out of there healthy, happy and still being able to enjoy life with my family, so it gave me a fire in my belly to seize the moment and do this cycle," he said.

Mr Seaward cycled 200 miles (322km) from his home to Paris in October 2023 to watch the Rugby World Cup final.

He has a wife Shelley, 35, and three children: Seth, 11, Finley, nine, and Esme, seven.

"At first, my children said, 'You can't do that'," he said.

"Then when I started breaking down why I was doing it, my children were a bit sad because I was going away for 21 days, but I told them 'Remember, I'm doing this to help someone else's daddy play with their children.'

"Then my youngest was on board and she told her brothers to let me go and help other people's dads.

"My children are the reason why I go through the chemotherapy and surgery, because you want to put a couple of years on the clock."

He plans to blog about his journey and said he was feeling "nervous" and "excited" ahead of the ride, hoping others will join him on the way.

"I want people to not be scared if they're diagnosed; get as fit and healthy as you can and enjoy life," he said.

"I may keep this record for a long time, maybe even forever.

"But if I don't, then I've inspired someone else to get on their bike while on chemo and that's a win for me, too."

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